Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Deputies for their questions and for their clear interest in this issue. It is important to say that I have been consistently vocal with regard to settlements in occupied territory and their expansion in recent years. This is something of which Ireland and the EU have been consistently critical. I have been quite public in that regard through my statements at the level of the UN and the EU and in a number of bilateral meetings with the Israeli Prime Minister and other Israeli representatives.

It is important to say that very clearly. Annexation in some ways would be a step considerably beyond what is currently an unacceptable situation in terms of expanding settlements, because it is about formally extending Israeli sovereignty to land that is not Israeli land; it is Palestinian land. That would fundamentally impact on the relationship between the EU and Israel and we have an obligation to signal that very clearly to the new Israeli Government in a way that is direct, which is what has happened. Many EU governments and Ministers, including me, have asked the European Commission to put a list of options on paper as to how the EU could or should respond should annexation proceed. However, it is important to say that it has not proceeded to date. The new Israeli Government has significant challenges in terms of Covid-19-----

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