Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 30: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views regarding the continuing policy of illegal Israeli settlement in Palestine's West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8768/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The establishment and expansion of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank is a breach of international law. This process represents an inherent injustice and humiliation for Palestinians. The existence of the settlements also necessitates a network of checkpoints and movement restrictions which are an oppressive daily reality for Palestinians. More broadly, the settlements also constitute, and are intended to constitute, an obstacle to the achievement of a comprehensive peace. If the settlements had not been put in place, I believe the way to a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians and the Arab world would now be clear and readily achievable.

In February Ireland co-sponsored a draft resolution in the UN Security Council to restate key principles about the settlements. While, for various reasons, this was vetoed by the United States, the support of all the rest of the Security Council sent a clear signal about the widespread international agreement on this issue. I am firmly of the view that a re-instatement of the settlement construction freeze which ended last September would be a major confidence building measure that could enable direct negotiations to resume.