Written answers

Thursday, 8 May 2008

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

5:00 pm

Photo of Joe CostelloJoe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 270: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will respond to documentation from a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17877/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of this correspondence and share the concerns of the group regarding the situation facing the Palestinian people.

The Government has consistently and actively promoted efforts to find a lasting, peaceful and just settlement to the Israeli — Palestinian conflict. We have been to the fore in arguing directly with the parties, in cooperation with our EU partners, and at the United Nations, that the only way forward for the Israeli and the Palestinian people is through a negotiated two-State solution.

The Government strongly supports the efforts of President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to reach a final status agreement by the end of 2008. However, as my predecessor has stated in this House and elsewhere, we are increasingly concerned that events on the ground will undermine the prospects for political progress. We are particularly concerned about the appalling situation in Gaza.

The immediate priority must be to end all violence in and from the Occupied Territories, including all rocket attacks by Palestinian groups and all military operations by the Israeli Army in the Occupied Territories. The EU strongly supports the continuing efforts, being led by Egypt, to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, which could form the basis for a broader agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The Government has called consistently for an end to the isolation of the people of Gaza, for the urgent re-opening of the crossing points for people and for goods, for the lifting of restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, and for an immediate and genuine freeze on all settlement construction. At the European Council in Brussels in March, the EU reiterated that settlement building anywhere in the Occupied Territories, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law, prejudges the outcome of final status negotiations and threatens the viability of an agreed two-State solution. At its meeting in London last Friday, the Quartet emphasised the importance of visible progress on the ground to build confidence and create an atmosphere supportive of negotiations. The Quartet called for an end to all violence and called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.

The Government monitors the human rights situation in the Occupied Territories constantly through our Embassy in Tel Aviv, our Representative Office in Ramallah, and in close consultation with a wide range of Palestinian and Israeli NGOs and civil society groups. We also cooperate closely in this regard with our partners in the EU and regularly raise our concerns directly with the Israeli authorities. These concerns are also raised directly under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The next meeting of the EU — Israel Association Council will take place on 16 June.

The Government does not believe that suspension of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement would serve the interests of any of the parties. We are also firmly opposed to any proposals for cultural, academic or other boycotts against Israel. Our priority is to encourage all efforts to restore momentum to the peace process through meaningful negotiations for the establishment of a Palestinian State.

Ireland's assistance to the Palestinians has risen by some 70% over the past two years, to €7.5 million in 2007. At the International Donors' Conference for the Palestinian State in Paris in December 2007, Ireland pledged €40 million for Palestinian recovery, reconstruction and development, in the context of political agreement. We will continue to respond to the needs of the Palestinian people, and to work for a peaceful and just settlement of the Israeli — Palestinian conflict. This will remain a major priority of the Government's foreign policy.

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