Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel
G e n e r a l     E l e c t i o n
1 May 1997

President: Baroness Sear
Chairman: Monroe Palmer
Secretary: David Lerner

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS and ISRAEL

Monroe Palmer

Party policy is made at Party Conferences. Israel has not been discussed for many years except in March 1991 as part of a motion "A Just Peace in the Middle East". The motion was in the aftermath of the Gulf War but did include:-

A fair and secure settlement for the Palestinian people and the State of Israel, in line with resolution 242 of the Security Council, involving the recognition of the right of the State of Israel to exist within determined borders guaranteed by the United Nations, and corresponding rights for the Palestinian people.

The encouragement of democracy throughout the region.

A regional security arrangement, validated by the UN Security Council, which enables each state in the Middle East to live peacefully with its neighbours, free from threat.

The Liberal Democrats have always stood for the right of Israel to live at peace within secure borders. We also believe, as the resolution states "in secure rights for the Palestinian people." It is significant that this is not described as an "independent state for the Palestinians" although there are some members of the Party who would see this as the natural progression in due course.

I have stood on the Golan Heights with a Liberal Democrat Parliamentary delegation which expressed wonders at how Israel had triumphed in this terrain and noted Israel's vulnerability at this point. I have stood in a West Bank settlement from which one can see the Israeli towns on the coast and a Liberal Democrat MP said "You cannot give this back and have security. "

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