Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the Senators for their remarks. Many points have been raised and I will address a few on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State, Deputy Colm Brophy. I underline that the Government shares the concerns of Senators regarding the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and the plight of the Palestinian people.

The Middle East peace process remains a key foreign policy priority for Ireland, including in the context of our term on the UN Security Council. The Government remains firmly committed to a two-state solution. The Government will continue to work with partners to revive a political process in line with international law, which ensures equal rights and is acceptable to both parties.

I want to address the points Senators have made about the Amnesty International report. I acknowledge that strong views have been expressed regarding the use of the term "apartheid". The Taoiseach has been very clear regarding the Government's position on this. While the Government does not believe it is helpful to use this term, we will continue to be frank with Israel and our concerns in this regard, including in our statements to the UN Security Council as well as during visits to the region by Ministers. It is important that, as a member of the UN Security Council and the European Union, Ireland remains a credible and effective actor in international fora in respect of our views on the treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli Government. We are acutely aware that we must be careful in our choice of words, clear in our interpretation of international law and conscious that our influence is greatest when we speak candidly with the actors involved. As the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, stated in his opening remarks, the Government regularly raises our concerns, including on a number of issues detailed in the Amnesty report, on which Senators have spoken today, directly with the Israeli authorities and at EU and UN level.

A number of Senators highlighted the issue of illegal settlement activity on the part of Israeli authorities and the related issue of settler violence. The Government has been consistently vocal in our opposition to settlements and their expansion on the West Bank, including in strategically sensitive areas around East Jerusalem. We have been clear that settlements are illegal under international law and threaten the continuity of a future Palestinian state and, therefore, the viability of the peace process.

At a Security Council meeting on 23 February, we strongly reiterated the long-standing position of Ireland and the EU that Israel must end its settlement expansion, confiscations, demolitions and evictions. Such practices, all of which further entrench Israel's illegal occupation, are underlying causes of tension and violence. Ireland also raised the continued escalation of settler violence, including in sensitive areas in East Jerusalem, which is acutely worrying. We highlighted the disparity in conviction rates between Israeli settlers and Palestinians who have committed acts of violence and called on Israel to bring the perpetrators of violence against Palestinians to justice.

As some Senators have expressed, the way in which the human rights of Palestinians are affected by the policies of the Israeli authorities is deeply troubling. As the Minister of State noted, Ireland has strongly underlined its concerns in this regard at the UN Security Council as well as at the Human Rights Council.

The Amnesty report refers to the human rights situation not only in the occupied Palestinian territories but also in Israel. In this regard, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has previously stated that it is imperative that the rights of non-Jewish citizens of Israel are not infringed and that there is respect and tolerance for the diversity of its population. Where the Government has concerns about laws and practices that undermine equality among citizens and disregards the rights of minorities, particularly the Palestinian minority, we make our views known clearly to Israel. We have, for example, strongly expressed our concern about the nation state law, which we believe might enable discriminatory practices against non-Jewish citizens.

Furthermore, Ireland can be very proud of its record as a long-standing supporter of human rights in this context, providing humanitarian assistance, legal and other supports of specific development projects to improve the situation of Palestinians, including a number of civil society partners that are active on human rights issues, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories. Ireland has also provided significant assistance to the Palestinian people, including through our support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA. Last year, Ireland signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with UNRWA underlying Ireland's commitment to the agency and pledging predictable funding of at least €6 million annually. In 2021, Ireland provided €9 million to UNRWA, equalling the largest ever contribution to the agency.

Some Senators have referred to the designation by Israeli authorities of Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organisations. I reiterate that the issue continues to be of priority for Ireland, including at the EU and the UN. On 8 November, Ireland supported the convening of a discussion of the designations of the UN Security Council. We made a press statement at the UN Security Council, following the meeting with France, Estonia, Norway and Albania, underlying our serious concerns at these designations and their potential political, legal and financial consequences. We have raised the issue at every subsequent Security Council meeting, including, as noted by the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, at the most recent meeting on 23 February. We have also raised this matter repeatedly bilaterally with the Israeli authorities.

I assure Senators that Ireland remains committed to funding civil society organisations and humanitarian rights defenders through the Irish Aid programme, including Palestinian civil society. I also underline that Ireland continues to provide funding to two of the designated organisations Al-Haq and Addameer. Ensuring there is peace and space for civil society organisations is a key part of our foreign policy globally. The Government recognises the particular importance of prioritising this in the context of the occupied Palestinian territories.

Ireland remains steadfast in its commitment to a resolution of the conflict, ending the occupation and achieving a two-state solution in line with the relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements. This is the path to progress for all people of Israel and Palestine.