Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 505: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the respect for human rights and democratic principle enshrined in the EU and Israel Association Agreement is being shown by the State of Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12670/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The EU-Israel Association Agreement forms the legal basis for relations between the EU and Israel. As the Deputy has indicated, Article 2 of this Agreement states that relations between the parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of the Agreement. This respect for human rights is a fundamental element of the European Union's relations with all other states.

Under the provisions of the current Association Agreement, there are procedures for raising human rights concerns directly with the Israeli authorities and these are regularly evoked alongside use of more regular diplomatic channels to make EU views on human rights issues known to the Israeli authorities. It is intended that these procedures will be strengthened in the near future through establishment of a dedicated sub-committee on human rights which will examine such issues as fundamental freedoms and the rights and protection of minorities.

Within the EU, Ireland has long been among the most active Member States in ensuring that we convey our serious concerns about any breaches of international law and human rights abuses in the occupied territories to the Israeli Government at every opportunity. The EU has made it very clear to Israel particularly that settlement construction in the Occupied Territories, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law. The EU has repeatedly called on Israel to honour its commitments under the Road Map and other international agreements to freeze all settlement activity, including "natural growth", and to dismantle outposts built since 2001.

The EU has also repeatedly made clear its serious concerns, most recently in the Conclusions adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council last December, at the unacceptable and counter-productive blockade of Gaza, the policy of forced evictions and demolitions currently being applied in East Jerusalem, and continuing heavy restrictions on movement for Palestinians in the occupied territories. It is clear that the Israeli government must do a great deal more to improve the basic situation and living conditions on the ground for ordinary Palestinians, if the appropriate political environment is to be created for meaningful dialogue and progress towards resolution of final status issues and achievement of a negotiated two-State solution.

In addition to existing EU statements on human rights concerns in the occupied territories, Ireland has taken a strong position regarding any proposed upgrading of EU relations with Israel. I made it clear to my EU colleagues on several occasions that events since the Israeli military operation in Gaza early last year means that there cannot be a "business as usual" approach to proceeding with the upgrade. I have consistently argued that account must be taken of overall developments in the peace process before the upgrade, which was postponed in June 2009, can go ahead.