Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1048: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Middle East section of his Department refused to view a film containing evidence of Israeli brutality directed against Palestinian pilgrims and Irish observers at a checkpoint in Bethlehem in October 2006. [2308/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The video the Deputy refers to was filmed by a member of a group of Irish citizens who travelled on a fact-finding visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in October 2006. The group was in contact with officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Representative Office in Ramallah and the Embassy in Tel Aviv during and after the visit. They have maintained contact with the Department, which is providing advice in relation to possible future visits to Israel and the Occupied Territories.

The video records incidents at an Israeli Army checkpoint near Bethlehem on 13 October 2006. Officials from my Department have met with members of the group to discuss the incident, and they have viewed the video. The Government's concerns in relation to this particular incident have been drawn to the attention of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs by our Ambassador in Tel Aviv. More broadly, I have continued to make very clear the Government's strong concerns about the effects on the Palestinian population of security operations by the Israeli Army in the Occupied Territories.

The Government and our EU partners have consistently called on all parties to abide by their obligations under the Quartet Roadmap and under international law. We are particularly concerned about the continued construction of the separation barrier on occupied Palestinian land, the expansion of settlements and a series of Israeli activities and policies in and around East Jerusalem which are in contravention of international law and which threaten to undermine the prospects for a negotiated two-State solution.