Extract from Welsh Assembly Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language: State Of Palestine and Israel Peace Plan - Feb 5

Eluned Morgan AM (Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language): Although international relations is a reserved competence, I have written to the foreign Secretary to make clear our position on this middle east peace plan. Wales stands firmly behind a rules-based international system, and firmly behind a truly equitable search for a resolution to one of the longest-running conflicts. If there are to be negotiations, this should be done in accordance with international law, established parameters, and existing UN resolutions. And it's far from clear that this is the starting point of this plan set out by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Bethan Sayed AM: Thank you for that. It's more comprehensive than what I thought I was going to hear today. We all know that Israel and Palestine, the conflict and the dispute, is the longest-running geopolitical problem in the world, and the inability to solve this problem has led to a broad and deeply damaging effect on the relations between the Muslim world and western countries. As you have indicated, the position of the United States with its new peace plan means that it has now abandoned even the pretence of being a neutral arbiter. The so-called peace plan outlined recently would legitimise land theft on a huge scale and mean decades of work done by the international community to try to reach a consensus on a two-state solution may get thrown away.

I understand that you've written on this particular plan, but I want to understand what further representations you will seek to make to the Prime Minister and foreign Secretary to make it clear that you will not support any further encroachment by the Israeli Government in terms of the settlements. Many of them are already illegal, as we know, and—[Interruption.] I'm sorry, I'm being heckled by Neil Hamilton. I'm trying to ask a question, which is legitimate. My question, to finish, is: what are we going to do to be able to accommodate the people of Palestine and Israel so that they can live in harmony together in the future, and so that we can try to reach a peaceful solution for all that does not reflect in this plan?

Eluned Morgan AM: Thank you. So, we have written to the foreign Secretary. I think it's really important that, whatever happens in future, it's based on international law and on equality and on ensuring that both sides have an understanding that this has got to be a mutual agreement. I think the real problem with this plan is that the Palestinians weren't in the room when it was being discussed. I think any efforts towards promoting peace in the middle east should be grabbed, but obviously we need to make sure that it's equitable and that it conforms with freedom and justice. It's amazing that even Prince Charles, who was in the Palestinian territories in recent weeks, concurred that that exactly should be the basis on which any future negotiations should take place.

Darren Millar AM: As a frequent visitor to Israel and the West Bank in recent years, I know just what a difficult conflict this is going to be to resolve, but I think we all need to be honest with ourselves in acknowledging that our ability to resolve this particular conflict is very limited. So, I ask the international relations Minister: what action can the Welsh Government take, in addition to that which it's already taken in writing to the UK Government, regarding this particular peace plan? What work could you do on the ground in order to get people talking to one another and working with one another so that we can build peace from the ground up, in many respects?

You will know that we as a party have said that we need a Wales to the world programme. That could include some work in terms of civic dialogue taking place between Wales and friends in the middle east, in both Israel and in the Palestinian territories. I think that that would be a great opportunity for us to have an even greater influence in that particular part of the world. You referred, very briefly, to the Prince of Wales's recent visit. Will you agree with me that it's visits like that that do a lot, actually, to promote the interests of the people of Wales overseas and the opportunities that that brings?

Eluned Morgan AM: Thank you. I think we have got to understand that it is the UK Government that leads in relation to foreign affairs, but also it is important that people understand the values on which we think agreements like this should be made. I do think that there is a role for us in the Welsh Government to be supportive of any steps that are going to get us closer to seeing a resolution to the middle east peace problem. I'm not sure whether starting off the way that this has started off is going to be the right path on which we are likely to get some kind of advancement in this area. But, certainly, I agree that Prince Charles going to the Palestinian Authority was probably something that was really constructive, and I think his message was very clear when he was there.