Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the new Israeli Government’s policy of expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, using the means of ethnic cleansing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2133/23]

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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I congratulate the Tánaiste on his new position and wish him well in his new role. The new extreme right-wing Israeli Government has made the expansion of illegal settlements on Palestinian land a priority. This, in effect, amounts to ethnic cleansing of Palestinian communities. How does the Minister view the new Israeli Government's policy of expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank using the means of ethnic cleansing?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the question and his kind comments. Ireland’s position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear. The continued establishment and expansion of settlements is a violation of international law and is unacceptable. This position was reiterated at the UN Security Council on 19 December, which focused on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334. On that occasion, Ireland also led a joint press statement by a number of states demanding that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in that regard. Ireland’s embassy in Tel Aviv also raises the issue directly in its regular contacts with the Israeli Government, and Ireland's representative office in Ramallah has made a number of visits along with European Union colleagues to sensitive sites of concern in the West Bank, including Masafer Yatta.

It is deeply concerning that the stated intentions of the Israeli Government continue to show disregard for the clear international consensus on this issue. It is important that the international community supports the Palestinian Authority in its recourse to legal and political responses to the occupation. I had the opportunity to discuss this issue in a phone call with the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Riad Malki, on 18 January, during which he shared his deep concern at the deteriorating situation. I also welcome that on 23 January, the Foreign Affairs Council provided an opportunity for both Prime Minister Shtayyeh and Foreign Minister Malki to raise these troubling developments with the European Union collectively. Ireland remains committed to supporting all efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting two-state solution, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, on the basis of international law and agreed international parameters.

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister acknowledged the violation of international law and said that Israel disregards international law and the views of the UN and EU. However, there are still no consequences for Israel stealing Palestinian land, for apartheid in Israel or for increasing rates of murder by the Israeli Defence Forces. The new fanatical, fascist, homophobic Minister of Finance in the Israel Government and the new racist Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, are not interested in peace or justice. They are interested in hate and in getting rid of the Palestinian communities from the land which they view as theirs. It is all very well to talk about condemnation and violation, but where is the action and determination to right the wrong that Israel commits in Palestine.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not quite certain what the Deputy is getting at. Ireland has been very active politically, diplomatically and at all multilateral fora, whether the UN Security Council, where we have raised the issue consistently, or within the European Union, which remains the biggest donor to the Palestinian Authority and a significant donor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA. Ireland is a strong donor to UNRWA and we give strong support internationally because we believe in fairness and in the two-state solution. The European Union is not united. There are 27 member states. We work with like-minded states in respect of the issue, particularly on trying to develop a roadmap to a two-state solution. We are one country. We have worked extremely hard as a country to do the right thing at all times, as we did recently at the UN General Assembly at the vote to seek international accountability for Israeli policies.

Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
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The point I am getting at is that the EU, for example, took clear and decisive action against Iran over human rights abuses. I heard the Minister say earlier that he disagreed with the introduction of the death penalty in Iran. The Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is looking for the reintroduction of the death penalty in Israel.

When Ireland and the EU take action against Iran over human rights abuses, why do the same standards not apply to Israeli breaches and its violations of international law? Had Mahsa Amini been Palestinian and murdered by Israeli forces, would the EU have cared? The evidence suggests it would not because hundreds of Palestinians are killed every year and there is no action. The Minister should do the right thing and introduce the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and recognise the state of Palestine.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I think it is accepted across the board what Israel is doing and what it has done to the Palestinians. Things are getting worse with a very right-wing and racist Government.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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Brostaigh ort.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We are talking about breaches of international law, annexation, apartheid, execution and murder. The Minister has said he works with like-minded states across Europe. What action will these like-minded states take? I accept the European Union will not do anything to hold Israel accountable, but on that basis there is an onus on us to stand by the Palestinian people. There must be consequences for the apartheid regime. Maybe that will be the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and, beyond that, recognising the state of Palestine.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Andrews made the point of the comparison between Iran and Palestine. Deputy Ó Murchú said Europe does not seem to care or act. Ireland does, though. When Shireen Abu Akleh was killed, Ireland raised the issue during our tenure on the UN Security Council. We did not stay silent on it. We called for an impartial, independent and effective investigation and, on 24 May, we organised a meeting of the Security Council on the protection of journalists. A Dáil debate on journalists and armed conflict took place on the same day. Ireland endeavours to be fair and down the middle in respect of condemnations of killings of this kind, whether it is in Iran, the occupied territories or indeed in Israel itself, where many innocent Israelis have also been killed by militants, which is also unacceptable. We want a two-state solution. We condemn the approach that has been taken. We object in the strongest possible way to the statements made by some of the new ministers in the Israeli Government in respect of the occupied territories.