Senator WHEELWRIGHT —My question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I draw the minister's attention to the fact that, after many months of difficult negotiations following the first stage of implementation of the Declaration of Principles between Israel and the PLO, the two sides yesterday initialled an agreement on the extension of autonomy in the West Bank, due to be signed later this week. Given that many in Australia have followed the development of the peace process with interest and concern, I ask the minister: what is now the government's assessment of the prospects for a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East?

Senator GARETH EVANS —I am sure all Australians would join with me in very warmly welcoming the agreement which has now been reached after many long days, weeks and, indeed months of negotiations between Israel and the PLO on the extension of Palestinian autonomy and in congratulating both sides on their commitment and perseverance over the last year and a half. It is an historic step forward for the peace process. It does pave the way for the holding of Palestinian elections and, indeed, the commencement on schedule next year, hopefully, of the final status talks, including on matters as sensitive as the future of Jerusalem.

  That agreement has been hard-won, even if Senator Hill is not showing any interest in it at the moment, and it should not be undermined by those seeking to score political points against the leadership of Israel and the leadership of the PLO. Even more, one can only hope desperately that it will not be undermined by the actions of extremists on both sides who fear the successful completion of the peace process. It has taken great courage, I believe, for the leaders of Israel and of the Palestinian Authority to show the restraint that they have in the face of such provocation to date. We can only hope that such restraint will be maintained.

  There is no acceptable, practicable alternative to a negotiated settlement in the Middle East. A return to the past of failures to meet and confront these issues across the negotiating table would be a disaster for everyone concerned. We certainly hope that both parties will seek practical responses to Israel's security concerns that do not entail economic hardship to Palestinians.

  I have to say that on the other track of the peace process, the Israel-Syria track, recent events have been less encouraging, although I am sure from my own recent visit to the region that there remains a strong commitment on both sides to achieving a settlement. Both sides are relying heavily on the United States to expedite the negotiations and it is clear that continuing United States engagement in the process is crucial.

  There is, unfortunately, no great evident desire on either side to move that negotiation forward at this stage. That is worrying because the window of opportunity for getting results is becoming increasingly limited. As the United States is about to enter an election year, it becomes more and more difficult to get US policy makers focused on being decisive in their responses to issues of domestic political sensitivity. Similarly, the Israelis are going to be increasingly occupied with their own elections next year, with all the difficulty that follows so far as keeping a rather fragile coalition majority together, given the disposition to engage in electoral grandstanding related activity—not an unknown phenomenon in other parts of the world.

  The coming months will be crucial for the Syria-Israel track. I do want to say on behalf of Australia that a failure to narrow the differences between the two sides in those remaining months of this year would, I think, be greeted with considerable pessimism around the region as an important opportunity lost.

  The basic point remains one of very warmly welcoming and congratulating the agreement that has been reached just a few hours ago finally between Israel and Palestine on the second stage of the Palestinian track negotiations. That is a major step forward and one that across all sides of this parliament we ought to be very warmly congratulating indeed. On that basis, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.