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Business of the House

I am sorry that my hon. Friend takes such a pessimistic view of the middle east, and particularly sorry that he regrets Israel’s disengagement from Gaza. My contacts in the Palestinian community have strongly welcomed that as an important step towards a two-stage solution for the middle east. That is why we believe that this is a contribution towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. That is also the view that most of my Palestinian friends have taken. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear the Government’s position in relation to the outrageous remarks by the Iranian President, and I do not believe that I need add anything to that. I know that I speak for all Members of this House in condemning those remarks and the destabilising characteristic of what the Iranian President has done. As for Iraq and Afghanistan, my hon. Friend may be more pessimistic than I am. I believe that we have made very significant progress, with elections taking place and a constitution being approved in both countries and steps now under way towards providing not only a transitional Government in Iraq but a permanent one.