Written answers

Thursday, 20 January 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs

Middle East Peace Process

5:00 am

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent, if any, to which he and his EU colleagues continue to address the humanitarian issues in Gaza; the extent to which he and his EU colleagues continue to engage with the Israeli authorities in an effort to resolve these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3224/11]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The EU has continued to follow closely developments in relation to the blockade of Gaza following the announcement by Israel in June of a significant easing of the terms of the blockade. The measures to ease the blockade have, so far, proved inadequate and we need to see much greater action from Israel and more quickly, if conditions in Gaza are to be genuinely improved. The level of imports in the first week of January still only amounted to about one-third of the level of routine shipments before the blockade was imposed. Serious concerns remain about the overall volume of goods, severe restrictions on construction materials, and refusal to permit normal movement of persons. This is a process which the EU is watching closely.

The EU's continuing concern over the situation in Gaza was reiterated at last month's meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which also, yet again, called for the immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing points for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons, to and from Gaza. Since all shipments into Gaza remain subject to Israeli security checking, the physical capacity of the three remaining crossing points is a significant constraint on supplies to Gaza. This problem will be exacerbated by reports of the likely closure of the conveyor belt at the former Karni crossing. Its closure without replacing its capacity elsewhere would further exacerbate shortages of construction materials and vital food supplies in the territory.

The final closure of Karni would leave only two crossings open between Israeli and Gaza – Erez for pedestrians and Kerem Shalom for goods. The closure would run contrary to recent efforts to improve access to Gaza and Israel's expressed intention to facilitate the resumption of exports from the territory. The resumption of exports is essential to Gaza's economic recovery. While I welcome the intended resumption of exports, I would urge the Israeli authorities to reconsider the closure of the Karni crossing. The closure will lead to further shortages and affect the lives of ordinary Gazans.

HR Ashton has continued to pay close attention to the situation in Gaza and raised the issue during her visit to the region at the start of January. The EU is also considering practical assistance to the Palestinian side to help increase capacity at the border crossings. Ireland will both bilaterally and in discussion with our EU colleagues ensure that attention remains on the problems of Gaza. While there has been some modest progress, it is very clear that much more needs to be done, and more quickly.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the Middle East process; the extent to which he and his EU colleagues have addressed the issues arising on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3225/11]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my answer to the Priority Question on the same issue on today's Order Paper, a transcript of which is below.

As Deputies are aware, the direct Israeli-Palestinian talks were suspended shortly after they began in September, following Israel's refusal to extend its partial freeze on settlement construction. The United States, as the convenor of the talks, engaged in a period of intensive engagement with the parties, and particularly Israel, to try and bring about a resumption of that freeze, and thus of the talks. The US view was that a period of intensive and committed engagement to negotiations on the final status issues, especially the issue of borders, could take the heat out of the settlement issue, and allow for further progress.

Regretfully, but in my view realistically, the US concluded in December that this approach was not going to succeed, both because the demands of Prime Minister Netanyahu in return for a renewal of the freeze were too high, and because there was a general lack of confidence that the time provided by a short extension to the freeze would be enough to make real progress.

Secretary Clinton has made clear that the US Administration remains firmly committed to the talks process, which is expected for the moment to continue by reverting to the proximity talks model. The US is also engaged in internal reflection, and consultation with other parties, including the EU, on what might be the next steps to move the process forward. The Quartet are also expected to meet shortly with the same object.

The priority objective of the EU is to support these efforts to restart the talks. Clearly, a final agreement can only come about through the two sides working through the key issues, with whatever assistance the international community can give. High Representative Ashton visited the region on 5-6 January to learn the views of both sides and encourage them to move forward, and the EU has also continued to discuss these issues with the US, with other Quartet members, and with other parties in the region. Ireland will remain actively engaged, both bilaterally in the region and within the EU, to support this process. We will also continue to work to highlight and improve the practical justice and humanitarian issues on the ground resulting from the continued Occupation .

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