Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if, in view of the ever diminishing prospects of a two-state Palestinian solution, he will make our disapproval known in the strongest terms to the Israeli ambassador of the recent land-grab by settlers and Israeli soldiers at Kafr Qaddum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10922/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have made very clear here in the Dáil and elsewhere my views of the continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, which I now believe constitute the single biggest impediment to peace in the Middle East. Settlement expansion inherently involves seizure of Palestinian lands and dispossession of Palestinian families. It weakens – and is intended to weaken – the ability of Palestinian leaders to engage in peace talks, it creates facts on the ground which deliberately complicate the task of reaching a peace agreement, and it risks provoking violent Palestinian reaction on the ground. Through our Missions in the area, Ireland and our EU partners try to follow the deliberately opaque and secretive processes involved. The nature and level of our reaction to these events is the subject of constant discussion, and varies from case to case. The village of Kafr Qaddum has become emblematic of the issues of land seizure and access through the resistance and demonstrations of the villagers. The most recent incident there, in which settlers were protected by Israeli forces while seizing land, is a frequent occurrence there and elsewhere in the West Bank.

In the course of my visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories last month, I made clear my views on the settlement process directly to Israeli leaders at a very senior level, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Deputy Prime Minister Meridor, and Foreign Minister Liberman. Ireland also supports Israeli and Palestinian NGOs which are helping to fight these land seizures through the courts.