Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 71 together.

President Trump has signalled on a number of occasions that he intends to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem as a signal that it is the capital of Israel. This would be a matter of real concern but it remains to be seen what actually happens. Previous US presidents have signalled the same intention but in office have recognised the difficulties such a move could cause. It would be likely to be seen as most provocative across the Arab world and in particular in Palestinian east Jerusalem. It should be recalled that there have been repeated calls in recent years, including by the United States as a member of the Quartet, to avoid destabilising actions in Jerusalem in view of the sharply-rising tensions there. The position for diplomatic missions in Israel is governed by UN Security Council Resolution 478 from 1980, which called on all UN member states with diplomatic missions in Jerusalem to "withdraw such missions from the Holy City". Ireland’s embassy was established in Tel Aviv subsequent to that resolution.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the major "final status issues" to be decided as part of a comprehensive peace deal between Israel and its Arab and Palestinian neighbours. Israel claims all of the greater Jerusalem area as its capital and not just the area of west Jerusalem that lies within Israel. Ireland and the international community as a whole envisage Jerusalem as the location of the capitals of both Israel and a state of Palestine. We look forward to establishing two embassies there in that context but to do so now, in advance of that comprehensive settlement, would be unhelpful for the reasons I have mentioned.

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