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

There is a difference between annexation, applying Israeli sovereignty to Palestinian land and expansion of settlements, which is also in my view illegal internationally and should not be happening. The proposals around annexation were about permanently extending Israeli sovereignty to elements of the West Bank. Having said that, the expansion of settlements that we have seen in recent years is almost like creeping annexation and has caused great tensions, understandably so, with Palestinian communities who simply feel that their land is being stolen from under them and are being forcibly removed, with houses being demolished and so on. I am on the record many times as being very critical of both settlements and settlement expansion and plans for annexation and I continue to be.

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