Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will advocate a policy of boycott, divestment and sanction against Israel by Ireland and the EU in protest against the institutionalised and systemic racism and discrimination against Arabs living in Israel which amounts to a system of apartheid; his views on whether it is untenable to reward a country with preferential trade whose basic law prohibits non-Jews from purchasing 93% of the land and provides that nationals have many more rights than citizens while excluding non-Jewish citizens from being nationals and for which it has been condemned by a US State Department Report. [16001/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have been frank and open in criticising aspects of Israeli policies in relation to both political and human rights issues, and in raising these bilaterally and at EU level.

However, as I have made clear on many occasions, including most recently at the ICTU Conference on Palestine held on 16 April 2010, the Government does not support proposals for trade, academic, cultural or other boycotts against Israel. This has been the consistent policy of successive Irish Governments.

Similarly, and as I have stated on many occasions, I do not believe it would be either helpful or feasible to seek the suspension of the operation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement or the trade benefits it confers, despite our many and clear differences with Israel on issues relating to their continuing occupation of Palestinian Territories. Such an approach would not increase our influence on Israeli policy or public opinion, nor among our EU colleagues. Nor is there any possibility of reaching agreement on such a policy at EU level, which would in fact require a consensus in favour of such sanctions.