Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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53. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the stated proposal by the President of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump, to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem with any of the interested parties on the basis that this move may contribute to divisions in Palestine Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3093/17]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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71. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the President of the United States of America, Mr. Donald Trump’s, plan to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; and that this planned move is a reversal of existing US policy (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the move is a violation of Resolution 181 of the UN General Assembly and that senior Palestinian officials warn that the move could provoke regional violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3029/17]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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This will be one of the most urgent discussions we could have. Following the amazing demonstrations across the planet after the inauguration of President Trump, one of the most feared factors connected to his presidency is the question of his promised move of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will notice that all the international diplomats clued into this in any way are warning of a major provocation in the region and that moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem will provoke a violent reaction in the area. Moreover, the European Union and United Nations have condemned it. Has the Minister condemned it or will he do so? What has he said or done about this highly provocative move?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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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.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is a very lame response. As a country and internationally we should be very concerned by the commitment from President Trump to move the embassy to east Jerusalem. Within 48 hours of his inauguration, or even before the inauguration, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel stated there was no longer a need to co-ordinate construction in Jewish neighbourhoods in east Jerusalem and that Israel will build where it wants and as much as it wants. I have a map in my office and I am sure other Deputies also have it. It indicates the very drastic changes to the occupied areas of Palestine over the past few decades. It is being encroached upon in a very serious way. This action will both provoke and unleash major violent reactions in Palestine and Israel and will further destabilise the region. Jordan has already warned that this will feed into the actions of Islamic fundamentalists and give them more fuel. That is why we must be concerned about it. It has global implications and, in particular, for the future of the people of Palestine and how that will affect diplomacy across the world.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have consistently called for the Israeli Government to cease demolishing Palestinian structures, including houses and infrastructure such as water and power networks, as well as animal housing, in the West Bank and elsewhere. The European Union has raised the issue of demolitions with the Israeli authorities, condemning them on behalf of EU member states. EU missions, including our own, are active on the ground in trying to protect vulnerable communities, including through numerous diplomatic visits to sites and communities threatened with demolition or forced relocation. I had the opportunity 18 months ago to visit a settlement area. I heard at first hand the justified concerns of residents and people with holdings in the area. Ireland has consistently argued for a strong response to such practices, including seeking compensation. We will continue to do so.

The other issue raised by the Deputy concerns the suggestion of moving the embassy. Lest there be any-----

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It is the main issue I am raising. Will the Minister comment?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Lest there be any doubt, I hope the US Administration recognises that the question of Jerusalem is much broader than the location of the capital of Israel.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The question has been asked but I will respond to the Minister's comments. I have no doubt but that the current American Administration is probably the most pro-Israel administration in the history of the United States. This is a provocative act to try to humiliate the Palestinian people. There is a lethal cocktail that has a maniac called Donald Trump and another psychopathic maniac called Benjamin Netanyahu. What will the Minister do about this and what will he relay to the American and Israeli ambassador, who should be expelled from this country?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I repeat that this a matter of concern. It is not yet an act and it remains to be seen what will happen. Previous US Presidents have made similar signals but the issue remains as is. I am conscious of repeated calls by the European Union, the Quartet and others in recent years about this. I make a call again this afternoon for all parties involved to avoid any destabilising moves in Jerusalem, which as we know has been the scene of sharply-rising tensions in recent years with violence, fatalities and loss of life. I am particularly wary of the damage from the use of language of provocation, which often does no more than inflame matters further and be unhelpful. I have expressed my concern and I have underlined that concern in the House this evening.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I hope the Minister will relay the concern to the Israeli ambassador. As I stated, that person should have been expelled from this country a long time ago. If Donald Trump tries to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, it will invoke an intifada in Palestine. The people of Palestine have every right to not only wage resistance against Americans but also against the Israeli occupiers. We will see Donald Trump's trajectory, as he is probably the most pro-Israeli and pro-Zionist President of all time. His action will be met with much resistance not only from the Palestinian people of Jerusalem but from Palestine as a whole.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I recently attended a conference in Paris with representation from over 70 states and organisations.

At the conference I restated our firm consensus view that the two-state solution is the only outcome that can result in peace and stability.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is not possible.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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It is my hope that the US Administration will acknowledge the fact that the question of the status of Jerusalem is more than simply a question of the location of the capital of Israel.

There is also the issue that Deputy Bríd Smith and others have raised. The purported annexation of large areas of the West Bank is, in my view, contrary to the fundamental principles of international law. I am mindful of the need to ensure that no acts are undertaken on the international stage that might give rise to further heightening of tensions within an area of considerable challenge.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Israeli ambassador should be expelled from the country.

Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Bríd Smith has waived her supplementary question. Deputy Paul Murphy can ask a final supplementary question.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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I thank Deputy Smith. The hope that Donald Trump is not going to follow through is looking like a faint hope. Let us consider what Trump has done in recent days. He has signed executive orders relating to the Dakota access pipeline, for example, and he has made statements on the wall and immigrants. They may well follow through with this.

Does the Minister not agree that moving the embassy is not simply of symbolic value? It is about obliterating any chance or hope of a Palestinian state. That is what it is about and that is the message it sends. It forms part of the strategy of the Israeli elite establishment on settlements, the populations of which have doubled since 1993. It has led to the destruction of 15,000 Palestinian homes since 1993. It is to put Palestinians effectively into Bantustans, which are like little Gaza territories dotted throughout historical Palestine. One of the first messages of the Government to Trump should convey opposition to this.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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This is a matter of concern. I have said that publically and I am saying it now in the Dáil. I say as much on behalf of the Government. Let us see what happens.