Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a recent EU report from the Jerusalem and Ramallah heads of mission regarding East Jerusalem; his views on the decision not to publish the report; if the EU plans to act on any part of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13094/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to a question on this matter on 22 February 2006.

The Government, and its partners in the EU, remain very 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 co-existence 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 changes to the pre-1967 borders other than those arrived at by agreement between the parties.

The Middle East peace process is discussed at every meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The meetings which I attended on 7 and 21 November 2005 expressed particular concern about the implementation of Israeli 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 had agreed that a detailed EU analysis on east Jerusalem should be prepared for adoption and publication by the Council 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 been no change, however, in the EU position on these important issues. The Government will continue to raise its concerns directly in discussions with the new Israeli Government. We, and our partners in the EU, will continue to engage constructively with the Israeli Government and with the Palestinian Authority to encourage them to fulfil their obligations under the roadmap, and under international law.