Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for his views regarding human rights abuses in occupied Palestine territories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45886/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question 4 of 17 October 2012, which was as follows:

The Government has consistently stated that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are illegal under international law and are an obstacle to peace. The relentless construction of settlements in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) is undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state. This is unambiguous EU policy, and a clear message that Ireland and our EU partners relay to the Israeli authorities in every meeting. The settlement project is incompatible with a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and with the end of the occupation.


Recognising that developments on the ground are threatening to make a two-state solution impossible, the Foreign Affairs Council in May adopted Conclusions that restated, and in many respects advanced, EU positions on issues such as the Palestinian depopulation of Area C and evictions and demolitions in East Jerusalem. Many of these issues are part and parcel of the settlement project. The Conclusions also set out the remedial action which we wish to see, primarily from Israel. Clearly the Council will have to continue to press on these issues, and I stressed this point again at the Foreign Affairs Council this week.


While I do not support a boycott of Israel or goods produced in Israel, I do believe that the exclusion of goods produced by Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories would reflect the illegal status of such settlements under international law. I have not yet made any formal proposal at EU level because I do not believe there is at present any prospect of getting EU agreement for such a ban. However, I already expressed the view that if there is no movement by Israel on the issues raised by the EU Council in relation to settlements, the Union should consider the exclusion of settlement products.


As the Deputy knows, the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade have written to me on this issue, and I will be replying in greater detail very shortly.