Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he, his Department and the EU have made to ameliorate the suffering of the Palestinian people since the EU cut off financial aid to the Hamas led Government in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34480/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the ongoing failure of Israel to observe the human rights of the Palestinian people and in particular the Israeli Government's continuing policy of collective punishment in Gaza; and if he will express the Irish people's condemnation of Israel's actions to the Israeli ambassador. [34512/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 137 together.

The Government remains deeply concerned at the continuing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The situation in Gaza in particular is unsustainable. The events of recent months have confirmed again that there are no military or unilateral solutions to the interlinked problems of the Middle East. The Government and our partners in the EU are committed to the promotion of a comprehensive settlement, with a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at its core. I stated in my address to the UN General Assembly on 26 September that such a settlement is more urgently required now than at any time in the past 60 years.

The Government has consistently been active, directly with the parties, with our partners in the EU and at the UN in encouraging the negotiation of a lasting, just and peaceful settlement based on the co-existence of two sovereign and independent States, Israel and Palestine. The EU has taken the lead under the Oslo Process, since 1993, in supporting the establishment of the institutions of a future Palestinian State. The EU continues to impress on both Israel and the Palestinian Authority the urgency of meeting their obligations under the Quartet Roadmap and under international law. In this regard, it is essential that Israel end the building of settlements, the construction of the separation barrier on occupied land and all activities which threaten to undermine the viability of a two-State solution. We have stated very clearly that the EU will not recognise any change to the pre-1967 borders unless they have been agreed between the parties. My officials and I have consistently conveyed these views in contacts with the Israeli Government, and will continue to do so.

Following the democratic Palestinian elections in January, the EU and the international Quartet outlined clearly the principles under which the international community can engage with the Palestinian Government. I deeply regret that, to date, the Hamas Government which was appointed in March, has not yet committed itself unambiguously to the peace process. The EU has strongly supported the recent courageous efforts by President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate the formation of a Palestinian Government of national unity, committed to the negotiation of a two-State solution. The process has proved extremely difficult, and has been undermined by the violence in the Occupied Territories since June and by the recent clashes between different armed Palestinian groups. I have stated, however, that if President Abbas is successful in forming a national unity Government based clearly on his platform for peace and reflecting the Quartet principles, Ireland will argue strongly for a positive and creative political response by the EU.

Deputies will be aware that since April the Commission has suspended direct assistance to the Government of the Palestinian Authority. However, the EU has taken the lead in the establishment of the Temporary International Mechanism to channel assistance directly to the Palestinian people. The Mechanism has been in operation since July, and the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg on 17 October welcomed the expansion of its remit, and its extension until December 2006. The Mechanism has focused on essential assistance in the health sector, the provision of fuel, and support for the large number of Palestinian families depending on low incomes. In fact, and contrary to what is widely believed, EU assistance to the Palestinians has increased significantly this year. To date in 2006, the EU has provided a total of €650 million in urgently needed assistance. Community assistance has risen to €330 million so far, about one third higher than the annual total in recent years. Ireland's bilateral assistance to the Palestinian people will increase by some 25% this year, to €5.4 million and the Government remains ready to respond further as necessary. The withholding by Israel of over €450 million in tax and customs revenues since April is the principal factor in the financial crisis facing the Authority. The EU has repeatedly called on Israel to resume transfers to the Palestinian Authority, if necessary through the Mechanism.

The immediate priority now must be to end the humanitarian and security crisis in Gaza. We have called clearly for an end to violence from all sources and the release of the captured Israeli soldier and the detained Palestinian legislators. The closure of Gaza must also be ended, through the re-opening of border crossing points for people and for goods. The EU is ready to play its part on the ground, including through the EU Border Assistance Mission at Rafah. The EU will also continue to press for an early and substantive meeting between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas, with a view to the re-establishment of a credible political process based on the essentials of the Quartet Roadmap.