Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence

Situation in Palestine: Discussion

Photo of Joe O'ReillyJoe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. The recent violence and deaths form a tragic and very serious backdrop to this conversation and give it a particular poignancy and importance. I concur with the initial vote of sympathy expressed by the Chairman and his exhortation for the violence to stop. He was followed in that regard by Deputy Brady. I certainly concur with those sentiments.

There is no question but that there has been an acceleration in demolitions and settlements, with the areas of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan being outstanding examples of that. It is completely wrong and immoral, and contrary to international law. The ambassador stated: "...315 structures have been demolished and 468 Palestinians displaced. Meanwhile, in 2020, 12,000 housing units were advanced." That is a shocking set of figures. Is this system of illegal settlements intended to block a two-state solution and make it a practical impossibility? I ask our guests to be more specific on whether the two-state solution will be unachievable at the end of the day, given the state of settlements, unless there is another whole depopulation.

On the issue of elections, what is happening is tragic and wrong on all fronts. The Chairman made kind reference to my involvement with the Council of Europe. Its fundamental principle is the preservation of democracy and the rule of law and its modus vivendiis based around that. It is horrendous that the elections are not being held. I ask our guests to elaborate on the practical issues that prevented the holding of the elections in Jerusalem. The ambassador stated that they have been postponed, rather than cancelled. It would be tragic for them to be cancelled; it is already tragic that they have been postponed. Although the violence is the immediate issue now, when does she expect that a properly conducted democratic election could be held? That is important.

I am of the view that there is no difference between de facto annexation and de jure annexation. Annexation is annexation. I refer to the acquisition of resources as the aquifer in Jordan valley, etc., and the building of distinct infrastructure to consolidate the settlements and set up roads, etc. It is all wrong.

This is an all-party committee of the Oireachtas and party politics do not enter into our considerations. However, all present might accept that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, is genuinely serious about this question and has engaged seriously on it. What specific recommendations do our guests have regarding the actions Ireland could take at the UN? I am aware of what they want to be done domestically and that is a question for the parties and the Parliament, but what do they think Ireland can do at the UN and within the EU that is not currently happening? Deputy Brady asked what they think we should do domestically.

That is my input. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute. It is so sad and horrific that we are meeting and discussing this issue in the context of 25 Palestinians having died and 600 having been injured. I join in offering sympathies to the ambassador. It is horrific that anybody is injured or killed in this conflict, no matter who they are. It is shocking.

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