Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 21: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether, prior to the start of negotiations about a two state solution, Israel is obliged under the Roadmap to freeze all settlement activity and dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001 and whether, by failing to do so, Israel is in breach of this agreement [32292/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Roadmap was not an agreement reached with the parties, but was a blueprint presented to the parties by the International Quartet in 2003. It was also endorsed by the UN Security Council in Resolution 1515 of November 2003. The Roadmap envisaged a series of complimentary steps by both sides to build confidence and advance in stages to a final comprehensive peace agreement. Phase One of the Roadmap required Israel to freeze settlement construction, including natural growth, and to remove outposts built since March 2001. Regrettably, Israel has never fulfilled these requirements. The Israeli Government eventually accepted the Roadmap, but with a wide range of reservations and exceptions, including allowing continued natural growth of settlements, while expecting full delivery by Palestinians of all elements pertaining to them, as well as further Israeli demands. Israeli governments have on a number of occasions promised to freeze settlements and remove outposts. Settlements were removed from Gaza in 2005 as part of a unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as a whole, but this has not occurred in the West Bank, except in limited circumstances. A very restricted settlement freeze in 2010 barely impacted on construction on the ground, and was allowed to lapse at the point where it might have become meaningful.

Israel's policy of allowing 'natural growth' of existing settlements is simply a cover for continued settlement expansion. Settlement growth has proceeded at four times the rate of construction in Israel. The housing needs of Israeli citizens should be accommodated in Israel, not on occupied Palestinian territory. Settlement expansion involves sustained violation of Palestinian rights, including seizure of land and resources, eviction of families, destruction of homes, and massive security restrictions to facilitate settlers at the expense of native inhabitants. It is, in practical political terms, impossible to negotiate while one side continues to move the goalposts outside the room. President Abbas has made it clear that continued settlement construction and expansion must be stopped if peace negotiations are to be serious.

The Foreign Affairs Council in May focussed strongly on these crucial issues on the ground, and it is essential that we continue to press for action there. The continued growth of settlements is incompatible with the achievement of peace. Settlements are now very close to making it physically impossible to construct a Palestinian state, and this is entirely deliberate. It is deeply dismaying that the Israeli Government continues to pursue this policy, and to put the interests of settlers over the pursuit of peace, which is in the interests not just of Palestinians but of the Israeli people too.