Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of the upgrade in EU-Israel relations that was agreed at the EU-Israel Association Council meeting on 16 June 2008; if he will explain Ireland's position on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24728/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he received representations from the Prime Minister of Palestine, Salim Fayyad, requesting that the EU-Israel relations not be upgraded at this time; and if he will publish the terms of the Government's reply. [24729/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland is committed to the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, in particular those which Israel has failed to implement (details supplied); and, if so, the action he is taking to secure their implementation. [24730/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland is committed to the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza and that the crossing will not be controlled by the Israelis, as promised by Javier Solana on behalf of the EU when the Agreement on Movement and Access was signed in November 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24731/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the his statement to Dáil Éireann on 11 March 2008 that Israel's action in Gaza constitutes collective punishment and is illegal under international humanitarian law, he will confirm that by taking this action Israel is in breach of Article 2 of the Euro-Med Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24732/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 to 229, inclusive, together.

The Government has been very seriously concerned about the humanitarian and security situation in Gaza and the West Bank. We have consistently called for an end to the isolation of the people of Gaza, the re-opening of crossing points for people and goods and the lifting of restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank. We have also called for decisive action by the Israeli Government to demonstrate a genuine commitment to a freeze on all settlement construction on occupied land. We and our EU partners are deeply concerned about a series of decisions in recent months authorising the construction of large numbers of new housing units in settlements in and around Jerusalem. Ireland has worked with other Member States to ensure that the EU has conveyed its concerns about settlement expansion directly to the Israeli Government at every opportunity, including at the most recent meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council in Luxembourg on 16 June. The EU position is very clear. Settlement expansion anywhere in the Occupied Territories, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law. It also prejudges the outcome of final status negotiations and threatens the viability of an agreed two-State solution.

There has been growing concern internationally that events on the ground will undermine the prospects for political progress, despite the determination of the Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestinian President to press ahead with their negotiations towards a final status agreement by the end of 2008. I have already expressed the Government's strong welcome for the ceasefire in Gaza, which was brokered by the Egyptian Government, and which came into effect on 19 June. I hope that developments in the weeks ahead will contribute to a new momentum in the political process.

We have been calling for an urgent end to all violence in and from the Occupied Territories, including Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli military operations. I am therefore encouraged by the courageous move by Israel and the Palestinians to try to end the violence in Gaza and Southern Israel. All sides must be assured of the full support of the international community in implementing and developing the initial agreement. Sensitive efforts will be required to reach agreement on the re-opening of crossing points and on future prisoner and hostage releases. The EU will give every possible support to the process. It has already stated that it is ready to resume the border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing-point in the event of agreement between Israel, the Palestinians and Egypt. The mission was established under the Agreement on Movement and Access brokered by the EU and the US between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in November 2005.

The Government has worked with our partners to strengthen the political role of the EU in the promotion of a negotiated two-State solution. The agreement at the EU-Israel Association Council on 16 June to upgrade relations with Israel was placed firmly in this context. It also comes on the completion of the first EU-Israel Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy. I hope that similar progress will be possible with other ENP partners as they complete their Action Plans with the EU. The precise elements of the upgrading will be discussed with Israel in the months ahead. They will include intensified political and human rights discussions. The EU stated clearly at the Association Council that they will also imply a stronger EU involvement in the peace process and in the monitoring of the situation on the ground.

The Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority wrote to all EU Heads of State and Government in advance of the decision to outline his reservations about any upgrading of relations in the current political context. I welcome the fact that he did so. The Government believes that the peace process must remain at the heart of the EU's relations with Israel and the Palestinians. Ireland played a crucial role within the EU in ensuring that Prime Minister Fayyad's concerns were clearly addressed in the Statement by the EU at the Association Council, which was approved by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 June.