Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis labhairt ar an ábhar seo. Is ábhar an-tábhachtach é agus tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh seans againn labhairt faoi go háirithe chun a chinntiú gur féidir próiseas síochána a chur ar fáil agus a thabhairt ar ais. I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and to view recent developments in a wider context. Allow me to turn first to the situation in Jenin.

In the early hours of Monday, 3 July, the Israeli security forces launched a large-scale military operation in Jenin and the refugee camp in the city. It involved several hundred personnel and use of significant military hardware, including drones. This was the largest Israeli operation in the West Bank since the second intifada. The stated objective of the operation, which unfolded over two days, was to target “terrorist infrastructure” within the Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces reported several arrests and that weapons and bomb laboratories were seized or destroyed. But at what price? The presence of armed militants within the Jenin refugee camp is not in dispute. However, they are a small minority of the approximately 14,000 men, women and children residing there and going about their normal, daily lives. This operation involved air strikes and exchanges of live fire in densely populated civilian areas; the bulldozing of roads and property; the displacement of around 3,000 people from their homes; damage to critical civilian infrastructure such as water and electricity supplies; and a significant worsening of the humanitarian situation within the camp. The incursion resulted in further loss of life and in more than 100 people injured. Irish diplomatic representatives in Ramallah joined EU and other international partners in visiting the Jenin refugee camp last Saturday. They encountered stark scenes of devastation and destruction.

Like many political leaders, the statement of the EU High Representative last week clearly underlined that any use of force must be proportionate and only a means of last resort when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life in line with international humanitarian law. In his comments following Saturday’s visit to Jenin, the EU Head of Delegation in Ramallah raised very clear concerns over the proportionality of force used during last week’s incursion. I have been consistently forthright in urging Israel, as the occupying power, to comply with its obligations under international law to protect civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory line. In this context, I condemn the serious impact and devastation that this incursion has had on the civilian population, both during the operation and in view of the long-term damage it has caused. I also underline that I condemn the ramming attack that targeted Israeli civilians in Tel Aviv last week, as well as the firing of rockets from Gaza. All of this violence only intensifies the downward spiral we are witnessing as regards the political, security and human rights situation.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 147 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces so far this year. This is close to the total number reported in the whole of 2022. The UN has also reported 30 Israelis killed by Palestinians, also approaching the total number reported in the whole of 2022. I share the view expressed by many commentators and analysts over the past week that incursions, such as the one witnessed in Jenin last week, do little to bring security to either Israeli or Palestinian citizens. I am, therefore, deeply concerned that Prime Minister Netanyahu has indicated that further operations like this could be undertaken in the future.

I need not remind this House that we have addressed the deteriorating situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on multiple occasions. In May we witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence following the death in custody of Palestinian activist Khader Adnan. The launching of rockets from Lebanon and Syria, as well as Gaza, was a reminder of the potential for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to spill over into the wider region. The raid in Jenin last week was one of several incursions by the Israeli Security Forces of increasing scale and intensity this year, resulting in significant civilian casualties. In some instances, the publicly-stated aim has not been to respond to an imminent threat. Rather, incursions into Ramallah and Nablus in June had the stated aim of demolishing the family home of a person accused of a terrorist attack. This is deeply troubling. The Fourth Geneva Convention provides that no protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Earlier this month, I was forthright in my condemnation of recent decisions by the Israeli administration to advance over 5,500 further housing units in West Bank settlements, including the retroactive regularisation of three illegal outposts.

Under international law, all Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, are illegal. The increasing pace of evictions and demolitions in the West Bank, as well as East Jerusalem, is also deeply concerning. We have also witnessed disturbing levels of settler violence and intimidation this year. In some instances, settler attacks have been perpetrated against the backdrop of inflammatory and permissive rhetoric from some members of the Israeli Government, heightening the sense of impunity that surrounds such violence. I was encouraged by the clear denouncement of such attacks by the Israeli security establishment and by a majority of the public in Israel, but we must also see clear action. I urge Israel to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable.

The work of civil society organisations, both in Israel and Palestine, is indispensable to building fairer and more peaceful societies and to the pursuit of accountability. I was particularly concerned by the recent proposal of the Israeli Government to introduce a tax targeting NGO funding. I welcome the fact this was subsequently withdrawn following international pressure from Ireland, the EU and other international partners.

These are all issues that I have been addressing in this House on a regular basis. Ireland continues to be a leading voice at the UN and within the EU in highlighting these issues and concerns. For example, we have used all opportunities that are available to us at the Human Rights Council in Geneva to raise concerns, both during regular sessions of the Human Rights Council and also the recent universal periodic review of Israel. We support and engage with the various UN mandate holders carrying out work in this area, including calling on Israel to facilitate their access. In June, we welcomed both the UN commission of inquiry and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, to Ireland. I welcome that, in addition to meeting senior officials in my Department, they also engaged with Members of the Oireachtas. Ireland voted in favour of the request by the UN General Assembly for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice and we have supported the Palestinian Authority in raising awareness of this process among the wider UN family. I look forward to attending the UN General Assembly in New York in September. Engagement with UN and international partners on Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be a priority.

I have taken good note of the contributions made by Deputies during our various exchanges on these issues. I welcome the deep-seated concern that is shared across the House at the direction of travel. Indeed, this strengthens my mandate when I engage on this within the European Union and internationally. However, I have also consistently heard calls for Ireland to take unilateral actions. In particular, I have responded frequently on the issue of recognising Palestine. I do not believe that this is the time to take that step. As the Government set out, it is necessary to assess whether the resulting loss of influence would be matched by a commensurate benefit for the Palestinian people and a positive impact on a sustainable peace on the basis of a two-state solution. While it is a judgment call, I am concerned that moving alone, rather than as part of a group, would diminish Ireland’s influence and undermine our continuing efforts to build international consensus at EU and international level.

To this end, Ireland continues to be at the forefront of EU discussions on this matter. It is an important point that we continue to work to build consensus at EU level and grow the number of EU states that would be closer to our view on issues in regard to Palestine. It also involves strong support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, which Ireland continues to be a very strong supporter of and contributor to, and that we would strengthen the European commitment to the Palestinian Authority, particularly in terms of more regular structured dialogue between the Palestinian Authority and the European Union into the future. As events unfolded in Jenin last week, I was engaged in consultations with the EU Special Representative on the Middle East Peace Process here in Dublin. I expressed my strong support for his efforts to forge initiatives that restore a long-term political horizon. This work includes follow-up on the commitments made by the EU High Representative in February of this year, following his trilateral meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. At that meeting, it was agreed that there is an urgent need to revive Middle East peace efforts based on the Arab peace initiative, United Nations resolutions and established international peace parameters.

In this regard, I welcome the priority being afforded by the EU and by the EU Special Representative to initiatives that involve close co-operation with partners in the region and the wider international community. Regional partners, as well as the United States, continue to play a central role in efforts to de-escalate tensions, including through the efforts undertaken in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh earlier this year. However, it is also important to introduce a longer-term perspective to these efforts that seek to bring the two sides back to the table. This is a message that I have also consistently conveyed to the US in my bilateral contacts as Minister for Foreign Affairs and one that I will continue to underline at EU level. I have also worked to ensure a consistent focus on this issue at the Foreign Affairs Council. I welcome, in particular, the engagement that EU Foreign Ministers had with Prime Minister Shtayyeh and Foreign Minister al-Maliki in January. At this meeting, the EU committed to stepping up its political engagement with the Palestinian Authority, providing renewed momentum to EU work in this area.

The stepping up of the EU’s bilateral relations with the Palestinian Authority is an important priority that can sometimes be overlooked. The close and constructive bilateral relations that Ireland enjoys with the Palestinian Authority are something that I would like to see more consistently reflected at EU level and we are working with a number of other like-minded states to enhance this. The high-level political dialogue, envisaged for later this year, will provide an opportunity to highlight the significant role that EU funding and support plays in supporting the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people. The week before last, I met with the European Commissioner for development and I again stressed the need for the European Union not just to maintain, but to continue to strengthen and increase its support for UNRWA and for the humanitarian needs and requirements of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people. That high-level dialogue will also provide an opportunity for the EU to communicate important messages to the Palestinian side, including on the need for democratic renewal. There has been much talk about the absence of elections in Palestine for some time. In our view, there should be elections in Palestine and there is a need to give voice to Palestinians in the occupied territories through the electoral and democratic processes. I understand the challenges and the constraints that have been placed on the Palestinian Authority in terms of the holding of elections but it is an important issue. We discussed this with the Palestinian Authority when President Abbas came to Dublin last year and when Palestinian Authority representatives came to the European meeting and when I met them bilaterally.

I am also eager that Ireland continues to lead by example within the UN system. I have referred to our support for the request by the UN General Assembly for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. I have asked my Department to prepare a written statement in advance of the court’s deadline of 25 July. The court’s advisory opinion should provide a useful framework for future discussions and engagement with both parties.

I understand that recent developments do not give rise to optimism. I have stated honestly and openly in this House that the prospect of a two-state solution has never seemed more remote. Against this backdrop, building EU consensus and reinvigorating international efforts to restore a genuine political horizon are more important than ever. I am convinced that Ireland must be a key part of these efforts. The dire events we have witnessed over recent weeks and months are a direct consequence of the failure to address the root causes driving the conflict. Furthermore, recourse to the type of policies and actions we have seen only serves to inflame tensions further. Respect for international law, including the UN Charter and UN Security Council resolutions, is the bedrock of international peace and security. This will continue to be the guiding principle for Ireland’s approach.

It is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both Israelis and Palestinians. These principles underpin my approach to our bilateral relations with Israel and the Palestinian National Authority. I welcome opportunities to engage in constructive and frank exchanges with my counterparts. I hope to visit Israel and Palestine in the early autumn.

I wish to emphasise to the House that the principled role that Ireland plays in respect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be valued by the international community. I have said "Ireland" because this encompasses not only the active role that the Government plays, but also the long-standing engagement of the Oireachtas as well the vital role that our civil society organisations and representatives play here in Ireland and on the ground. I assure the House that working towards a just and sustainable peace for Israelis and Palestinians remains a central priority for me, for my Department and for the Government.

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