Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I join him in welcoming our visitors from New York. I hope they enjoy their three weeks in Ireland and find their visit to Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann informative.

I am in the House to address the current situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and especially actions by the Israeli Defence Forces, IDF, last week in Jenin in the West Bank as well as the rising level of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. I begin by expressing my great concern and sadness at the events of recent weeks. The operation resulted in further loss of life, namely, those of 12 Palestinians and one Israeli. Among those who lost their lives most, if not all, were aged between 16 and 23 years. More than 100 people were injured, some 20 seriously and many of those were reported to be innocent bystanders. The Government of Israel has explained the actions of the Israeli military in Jenin in the occupied West Bank as being necessary to defend its security. This does not negate Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law, including the duty to protect civilians.

I am also deeply troubled by recent attacks on Israelis, including a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv on 4 July, that left several people wounded. Furthermore, the rocket fire we saw from the Gaza strip into Israel is an unacceptable escalation of an already dangerous situation. Previous violence tells us the people to suffer most from a further escalation of violence would be the Palestinians. The Government urges the parties to ensure no further violent actions are taken. The level of violence we have seen so far in 2023 has been significant. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, so far this year 147 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, which is significantly higher than at this point in 2022. It is clear the situation on the ground is worsening and the risk of a greater escalation that results in many more fatalities and injuries is high. The toll of these events is not only measured in the numbers of casualties and the destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods as the traumatic toll on a youthful population will have an effect for years and decades to come.

The overall picture of the current situation for Palestinian people is very worrying. We have seen increasing illegal settlement activity, violence against Palestinians by settlers in the occupied West Bank and disturbing statements by members of the Israeli Government. On 1 July the Tánaiste made a statement that condemned the decision by the Israeli Administration to advance plans for more than 5,500 further housing units in illegal settlements in the West Bank and urged the authorities to reverse the decision. Settlements are illegal under international law and their expansion must be halted. Ireland urges Israel to abide by relevant international law, including UN Security Council Resolution 2334. The Tánaiste also commented on recent settlement violence, which has become a regular feature in the West Bank and which Israel has a responsibility to prevent. The recent scenes of extreme settler violence in the West Bank villages of Turmus Ayya and Urif were shocking. Israel must ensure accountability for crimes committed by settlers against the Palestinian population. I condemn the attack last week against Israelis in Tel Aviv, which left several people wounded, and wish the victims a speedy and full recovery.On 21 June, the Tánaiste made a statement regarding the murder of four Israelis in the West Bank. Terrorist attacks against Israelis must stop as they only contribute to the escalation of violence.

Ireland’s position in respect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is grounded in international law. Israel is the occupying power and international law is clear that there is an obligation on the occupying power to protect civilians in occupied territory. Ireland again urges Israel to comply with its obligations under international law; international humanitarian law, which sets out Israel’s obligations under the fourth Geneva Convention; and on the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. Ireland is proactive in raising concerns regarding the situation in multilateral fora. Ireland raises our concerns consistently within the EU. We also have a strong record of engagement in the UN, including at the Human Rights Council and during our recent term on the UN Security Council. We are a consistent voice in the European Union on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ireland works to ensure that our issues of concern are raised and that we utilise our influence wherever possible. Ireland used the opportunity afforded by the EU-Israel association council last October to underline that Israel must comply with its obligations under international law and called on Israel to halt settlement expansion. As part of Ireland’s term on the UN Security Council in 2021 and 2022, we spoke consistently about the serious effects of the actions of Israeli authorities on the Palestinian people. Ireland stressed the effects of settlement expansion, evictions and demolitions, and highlighted the importance of protection of journalists in the wake of the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.

As Minister responsible for Irish Aid, I am acutely aware that while Ireland continues to prioritise a two-state solution, we must also work to improve conditions for Palestinians now. That is why Ireland’s support for the Palestinian people is also reflected in our development assistance programme. Ireland’s total package of support for Palestinian people in 2023 will be in the order of €16 million, including €14 million from the Palestine programme and €2 million provided to non-governmental organisations with which we work closely. The Palestine programme’s stated aim is to contribute to preserving the space for a two-state solution and as such includes support for Palestinian institution-building and human rights along with much-needed humanitarian assistance.

Ireland has contributed €8 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in 2023. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency provides critical services to Palestinian refugees, including education and healthcare. Ireland is a long-standing supporter of the critical work undertaken by United Nations Relief and Works Agency on behalf of Palestinian refugees. I will again emphasise that we utilise these funds as much as possible for education and healthcare purposes. The Palestine programme has a strong focus on education. In 2023, Ireland will provide €3 million to the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Education. We will also bring 25 Palestinian postgraduate students to Ireland as part of the Ireland Fellows programme. That is a programme operated in the Department of Foreign Affairs whereby we bring graduates from around the world to Ireland each year. They have university degrees in their own country and they come to do a one-year postgraduate programme in our third-level institutions. We bring anywhere between 150 and 200 students to Ireland each year, fully paid for by the kind generosity of the Irish taxpayer. When they go back to their own country they have a greater level of education and understanding of ways of doing activities outside their own country. Many of them go back into their own government departments, civil society, non-governmental organisations and the private sector. I was privileged last week to meet with the group who have been here for the past year and who are all heading home. They were from a variety of countries around the world. It is good for Ireland to have this link. Those people who have spent a year in Ireland will, we hope, be in significant influential positions in their home countries in the years to come and will be great contacts for us to have with those countries. It is a very worthwhile programme. The students benefit a lot from it but there is a mutual benefit for Ireland in the long run. Come September we will have another large group coming to Ireland again, studying at about 17 different third-level institutions. They are not all Dublin-based but are everywhere around the country. They pick the subject they want to do for their postgraduate degree. Our Department, with an agency here in town, works out which of the third-level institutions runs the course best suited to them. They self-select where they want to go themselves. It is a very important programme, the Irish Fellows Programme, of which members of the public may not be fully aware. I am pleased to expand on it here because it is very relevant to today's statements.

Ireland also supports Palestinian non-governmental organisations working on human rights, accountability and democratisation. In the Gaza strip, Ireland and France are developing a solar energy plant to power water treatment, which will allow treated water to be used for irrigation. This innovative project underlines our willingness to find new ways to support the people in Palestine. It is important to acknowledge that improving conditions for people on the ground is also necessary for any future political process. Ireland will continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people which improves their daily lives in tandem with our support for a political horizon leading to a two-state solution.

The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory today is very concerning. The recent actions of the Israeli Government including demolitions, settlement expansion, and the killing of Palestinian civilians, not only have the potential to further inflame tensions but undermine the prospects for a lasting peace. I call again on the Israeli Government to halt all actions in violation of international law and to work towards a just and lasting peace. Ireland will continue to work with our international partners, particularly at European Union level, as well as with both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to encourage steps to restore a political horizon for the future.