Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to respond to an inquiry from Amnesty International as to the status of a recent report prepared by diplomatic missions of the EU in Ramallah and Jerusalem in regard to the present position in Israel and the occupied terrorities, including proposals for breaking the impasse in regard to peace; if the report will be published; if it has been considered by the General Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7222/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and its partners in the EU remain seriously concerned at Israeli activities in the occupied territories, including the building of settlements, house demolitions and continuing construction of the separation barrier on occupied land. These activities are contrary to international law and to obligations under the quartet roadmap. They threaten to undermine a solution based on the coexistence of two viable states and, likewise, the possibility of a final status agreement on Jerusalem. It remains the clear position of the EU that it will not recognise any change to the pre-1967 borders other than those arrived at by agreement between the parties.

The meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which I attended on 7 and 21 November 2005, expressed particular concern about the implementation of these policies in and around east Jerusalem and repeated the EU position on changes to the pre-1967 borders. The EU's concerns were reaffirmed in the declaration on the Middle East which was adopted by the European Council on 15 December 2005.

At its meeting on 21 November, the Council agreed that a detailed EU analysis on east Jerusalem should be prepared, for adoption and publication on 12 December 2005. The matter was discussed in detail at the meeting on 12 December but consensus was not reached on the publication of an analysis, primarily because of the domestic political developments in Israel in the intervening period. There has, however, been no change in the EU position on these important issues. The Government will continue to raise its concerns directly in discussions with the Israeli Government. We and our partners in the EU will continue to engage directly and constructively with the Israeli Government and with the Palestinian Authority to encourage it to fulfil its obligations under the roadmap and under international law.

In line with the position set out above, a substantive reply has issued to the inquiry from Amnesty International.