Dáil debates

Thursday, 23 February 2017

Topical Issues Debate

Israeli Settlements

6:25 pm

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I am a bit disappointed that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is not able to be here. I presume there is some reason. Is there?

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade asked me to take it. I convey his apologies. I believe he informed the Deputy's office that he would not be able to take it today. The Deputy could have it withdrawn and resubmitted if he wanted.

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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No problem.

The issue is the Israeli Government decision to illegally demolish 42 homes and businesses in the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, which is between Jericho and Jerusalem. Last year, 2016, was a record year for the demolition and confiscation of Palestinian dwellings and livelihood structures in the Occupied West Bank by the Israeli army. Figures from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and EAPPI, the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, show that 1,089 structures were demolished or confiscated in 2016, leaving some 1,600 Palestinians displaced and affecting the livelihoods of a further 7,100 people. This was the highest annual figure since formal recording began and represented a 96% increase on the 2015 total. The figures for 2017 so far indicate we are heading to have another record year for demolitions.

On Sunday it was widely reported in the Israeli press that 42 homes and businesses were served with demolition orders by the Israeli army. These demolitions, once carried out, would in effect destroy the entire village. Such a widespread issuance of demolitions orders at one time in one village is not only unprecedented but a clear declaration by the Israeli military that it plans to remove the entire community. That is what this whole community is facing. While it is correct to say that many of the structures have been built in violation of the planning laws of the Israeli military, this ignores the fact that these planning laws are unfair, unjust and apartheid-Iike in their makeup. They are also superseded by international law, which bans such actions. Under Article 46, the destruction of such property is in grave contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

This is an unprecedented issuing of demolition orders in this village and it is a very rare occurrence for the Israeli military to issue so many demolition orders at once. If these demolitions take place they will leave hundreds of men, women and children homeless. Such actions would also constitute a grave breach of the of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the destruction of personal property by an occupying power unless it is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations. It also prohibits all forcible transfers of civilian populations by an occupying power. What they are doing here is wrong under international law.

Israel has avoided large-scale evacuation of Palestinians in Area C in the past, partly because of the protests by European and American diplomats. I am asking the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to make urgent representation to the Israeli Government to reverse these demolition orders.

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade asked me to send his apologies and reply on his behalf. He is very keen to get a full account of the issues the Deputy has raised.

The Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, to the east of Jerusalem, has been subject to demolition and removal orders for many years. Some houses and other structures have been demolished on a number of occasions. International donors, including the UN OCHA humanitarian fund to which Ireland contributes, have provided humanitarian assistance to replace demolished structures, including water facilities and latrines. Particular attention has been focused on the school, constructed out of tyres plastered with mud, which currently serves five local communities, and has 169 pupils.

However, concern has been heightened in recent days by the issue of a series of new stop-work orders relating to the village structures, and by the imposition of a military lockdown on the community and heavy military presence, giving rise to fears that a major demolition action may be planned. Irrespective of whether this is intended, the object clearly is to increase pressure on the residents to move from the area.

There has been a strong international response to this threat, in which Ireland has taken an active part. In October 2016 the Irish and other EU heads of mission in Palestine visited Khan al-Ahmar to see the situation, demonstrate support and show that the actions of the authorities there were being scrutinised. In response to the recent increased threat, there have been strong statements on the case from the relevant UN agencies on the ground and from the EU representative.

The Irish ambassador in Israel has made a démarcheat a senior level in the Israeli Foreign Ministry, drawing attention to the threats and expressing the strong concerns of the Government over the threats of demolitions, contrary to international law.

The Irish representative in Ramallah will be joining other EU heads of mission in a further visit to the community in the next few days. More broadly, Ireland also supports a range of Israeli and Palestinian NGOs that are active in combating human rights and justice issues arising from the occupation. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, has also recently decided that Ireland should join the West Bank Protection Consortium which is made up of a network of NGOs and international donors and works with a total of 392 communities, 188 of which are at heightened risk of forcible transfer. The consortium supports threatened communities and co-ordinates the provision of essential services including material assistance and legal aid to those at risk of forcible transfer. Ireland has allocated €200,000 to the consortium for 2017. In the case of Khan al Ahmar, the most recent reports today suggest the threat of demolition may not be as imminent as feared. The prompt attention to the case may have helped in this regard but we cannot be active on every case all the time. This is the kind of uncertainty the community has to live with permanently. Ireland's missions in the area will keep this case under very close observation.

6:35 pm

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome that the Irish representative in Ramallah will be visiting the community in the next couple of days. International pressure, when applied collectively, has an impact and can in some case halt these demolitions. Unfortunately, the number of demolitions is at an all-time high. Last year, there was a 96% increase and this year it seems to be at the same scale. It is almost as if whatever shackles the Israeli Government had have been thrown aside and it seems to be moving ahead with these proposals. We know from our own history, the history of evictions and people being forced off their land. It was burned into the psyche of generations of Irish people. Similarly this is what will happen in this situation. Visiting the village yesterday, the UN co-ordinator for humanitarian aid and development activities for the occupied Palestinian territory, Robert Piper, commented that:

Khan al Ahmar is one of the most vulnerable communities in the West Bank, struggling to maintain a minimum standard of living in the face of intense pressure from the Israeli authorities ... This is unacceptable and it must stop.

The EU delegation in Jerusalem or Ramallah released a statement and I welcome that Ireland is part of it. There was a motion passed in this House on the recognition of Palestine. I call on the Irish Government to recognise formally the state of Palestine. How many more international laws and human rights violations will it take before we collectively stand up for the rights of Palestinians? How many more homes have to be demolished before the Government recognises it is time for action and time to recognise the state of Palestine? If there is any message at all that we can send from this Parliament to those people who are suffering so badly, it is that we recognise their plight, their homeland and their right to be free.

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Crowe for raising this issue. I have set out the response from the Minister. The Deputy will see the Irish representatives along with other international colleagues are very active and recognise the urgency and concern the Deputy raises. On the wider issue of a settlement in the region, it is Ireland's view and that of the European Union that a just and comprehensive resolution to the conflict must be based on two states living side by side in peace and security. That goal remains unchanged.

The Government has also made it clear in its programme for Government that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade keeps under continual review whether the immediate recognition by Ireland of a state of Palestine prior to its real achievement on the ground could be a helpful step towards the goal of resolving the conflict. He has made it clear he will recommend early recognition by Ireland if it would be helpful. He is working very closely with a number of Middle East peace initiatives, both an initiative by the French and preparatory work led by Sweden. It is in the context of those initiatives that the Minister will make a decision on this issue as is committed to in the programme for Government.

I will convey the Deputy's views to the Minister and once again apologise he was not able to make it here on this occasion. It does not in any way diminish his commitment to the issues the Deputy has raised.