John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 357: 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. [14289/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my replies to questions on this matter on 22 February and 4 April 2006. At its meeting on 21 November, the General Affairs and External Relations Council 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 council 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.

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 subsequently reaffirmed in the Declaration on the Middle East which was adopted by the European Council on 15 December 2005.

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.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the so-called Quarter Powers, the European Union, US, Russia and the United Nations have said that a new Hamas-led Government must commit to non-violence, recognise Israel and accept peace agreements or it could lose the financial support it receives from the international community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14290/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to a question on this matter on 14 April 2006. The international community has adopted a clear and united approach in relation to the outcome of the democratic Palestinian elections on 25 January and the approval of a new Government by the Palestinian Legislative Council on 28 March. The meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council which I attended on 30 January emphasised that violence and terror are incompatible with the democratic process. It urged Hamas and all other factions to renounce violence, to recognise Israel's right to exist, and to disarm. The council also encouraged the formation of a Government committed to a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict, based on existing agreements and on the terms of the roadmap. On the same day, the international Quartet, representing the European Union, the United Nations, the United States and Russia, set out the conditions for engagement with the new Palestinian Government. The Quartet stated that all members of a future Palestinian Government must be committed to non-violence, to recognition of Israel and to acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including those of the roadmap.

On 30 March, the Quartet welcomed the efforts of President Mahmoud Abbas to ensure that the new Palestinian Government commits to a platform of peace, but noted with grave concern that it has not committed itself to the principles set out by the international community. The Quartet encouraged continued humanitarian assistance to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian people, but reiterated that future assistance to the Palestinian Authority will be reviewed by donors against the Government's commitment to these principles.

The most recent meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, on 10 April, agreed on a review of EU assistance to the Palestinians against the new Government's commitment to the principles set out by the council and by the Quartet on 30 January. The council noted that the absence of such commitment will inevitably have an effect on direct assistance to the Government. It made clear, however, that the EU will continue to provide necessary assistance to meet the basic needs of the Palestinian population. In the review process now under way, Ireland will press for a generous and wide-ranging interpretation of what constitutes such assistance. At the same time, I would emphasise that positive movement from Hamas would greatly facilitate such an approach and would serve the interests of the people of Palestine.

The April meeting of the council also urged Israel to take steps to improve the humanitarian and economic situation of the Palestinian people, including the resumption of transfers of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues.

I assure the Deputy that, both nationally and in the multilateral framework, the Government will continue to do all that is within our capacity to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, while taking full account of the wider political realities.