John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he proposes to take or is willing to support against Israel following the destruction of aid supplied by the EU and Ireland to Palestine by Israeli forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4406/23]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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What actions is the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs prepared to take in order to hold Israel to account for its continuous demolition and destruction of EU-funded structures in Palestine?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I said earlier, I am very concerned by the demolitions and evictions in the occupied Palestinian territory. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property and humanitarian aid accelerated in 2022, which saw a record number of Palestinians affected by demolitions, evictions and confiscations. I have been consistently forthright in voicing my opposition to Israeli settlement activity, including demolitions and evictions, in the occupied West Bank. These actions are a clear violation of international law and stand in the way of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Ireland has been proactive in ensuring that these issues are highlighted in international fora, including during our recent tenure on the United Nations Security Council. Ireland has repeatedly urged Israel not to proceed with planned demolitions and to cease all settlement activities. Ireland has raised these issues directly with the Israeli Government, including during visits to the region. Ireland’s embassy in Tel Aviv also raises these matters in its regular contacts with the Israeli authorities. Ireland's representative office in Ramallah has made a number of visits, along with EU colleagues, to sites of concern in the West Bank.

Ireland is part of a group of EU member states pursuing compensation for humanitarian structures, funded by donors such as Ireland, through the West Bank Protection Consortium. The consortium has sought compensation of over €1,170,000 in respect of confiscated or demolished assets since 2015. Ireland provided €300,000 in funding to the consortium in 2022, underlining our commitment to reducing the vulnerability of Palestinian communities living in Area C of the West Bank.

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.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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On 24 November last year, Israel demolished Masafer Yatta school in south Hebron. That was one of more than 9,257 Palestinian structures that have been demolished illegally by Israel since 2009, displacing more than 13,345 Palestinians from their lands. This is a policy of destruction, demolition, displacement and dispersal of Palestinians to the smallest parcels of land, similar to the Bantustans in apartheid South Africa. The Minister referenced the application by the West Bank Protection Consortium. That has now been going on for the past four years and not one penny in compensation has been paid. Again, words of condemnation and compensation claims are not having an effect. What is the Tánaiste prepared to do to ensure that the illegal demolition of Palestinian structures stops, and stops immediately?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is doing everything it can within its diplomatic and political capacities, particularly, as I said earlier, in multilateral fora such as the United Nations Security Council, where we have consistently raised these issues. Our position was most recently reiterated on 19 December at the meeting of the UN Security Council which focused on the issue of Israeli settlements, and we were key to getting that on the agenda. Our position is very clear: fundamentally, we believe in the two-state solution, as this House does. These settlements militate against the creation of a two-state solution and jeopardise and imperil any prospect of a two-state solution, and I want to be very clear about that. There is not unanimity or anything near unanimity of views across the EU 27, unfortunately. However, we work with like-minded EU member states to consistently raise the issue and to do what we can, through our funding programmes and through our diplomatic and political channels, to work with the Palestinian Authority to keep these issues alive.