Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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107. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, as the 20th anniversary of the second Palestinian Intifada is passed, his attention has been drawn to the escalating policy of silent transfer of Palestinians from occupied east Jerusalem; the measures the EU is discussing to address the behaviour by Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28547/20]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The problem is that despite the statements of sympathy with the plight Palestinians are faced with, the silent transfer and annexation prosecuted by Israel against Palestinians to remove them from places like east Jerusalem and other parts of the West Bank just goes on and on. Nothing is done to stop it. The Minister is stating that he is appalled by it but nothing can be done, which is his essential line.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is actually not. We have done a great amount to try to advance the cause of the two-state solution and to focus the world’s attention on illegal settlements and their expansion. We have contributed to international pressure that has prevented Israel from moving ahead with plans to annex large parts of the West Bank in the summer. We have been active at UN level and have been involved in multiple resolutions. We have been very active at EU level and we continue to be. Only last week I spoke to my German counterpart on what has been described as the Amman Statement where France and Germany met with Jordan and made a statement following that meeting reinforcing EU support for a two-state solution and a rejection of annexation and breaches of international law. We remain in the middle of this debate and continue to try to shape an EU response towards equality of treatment of both Israelis and Palestinians in a way that can lead to a negotiated solution both sides can live with in security and statehood. That is what we will continue to do. We are far from toothless in this area and I can assure the Deputy that we are doing much more than simply expressing criticism. What we cannot do is breach international law ourselves or try to do something that is outside the remit of the Irish Government in trade sanctions or limiting trade. I have explained that to this House on many occasions and this position comes directly from the Attorney General.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Since January there has been a 55% rise of structures targeted with demolitions or confiscated in the occupied territories and a fourfold increase in the number of displaced people. While all these statements are being made, the situation continues to get worse. In east Jerusalem, 24 structures were demolished last month. It just goes on and no action is taken. There are no consequences. Is it any wonder that Israel believes it can do what it likes? The Minister and Europe keeps talking to Israel, expressing concern but there are no consequences. In reality, it believes it has the green light to do what it likes because there will be no consequences. The only reason apartheid South Africa was eventually brought down was because there were consequences for running an abhorrent regime but there are no consequences for Israel.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As I have said, if we had this debate last June people would have predicted that in July Prime Minister Netanyahu would have moved ahead with annexation of parts of the West Bank, and possibly even the Jordan Valley. That did not happen because of international pressure. The perception was that Israel had been given the green light to do that and it did not. It was talked out of doing so by powerful allies of Israel but also by very direct messaging from the European Union, in which Ireland was very much involved in the debates on the Middle East peace process at that stage within the Foreign Affairs Council.

I agree with the Deputy that in many instances Israel acts with impunity. It continues to impinge on Palestinian lands and Palestinian rights in a way that is illegal. We have to continue to highlight that and maintain pressure but we also have to talk to Israel and maintain a relationship that can result in a negotiated outcome at some point in the future. It will not be resolved by protest alone.