Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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295. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ask the Israeli authorities why approximately 350 acres of crops, all less than the regulation 40 cm in height and newly planted by Palestinian farmers in Gaza, have been destroyed by Israeli crop sprayers operating in the access restricted areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3746/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of two recent reports of crop spraying in the restricted area on the Gaza side of the border fence. This practice is now said to have been going on for some years, but to have just come to wider attention.

The Israeli NGO Gisha, which is supported by Ireland, has put a series of questions to the Israeli authorities about the reasoning for the action and what chemicals have been used. The spraying of any kind of toxin onto crops intended for consumption is a matter of concern, and an issue on which people anywhere tend to be very sensitive. It is important therefore that Israel discloses fully what it has been doing, and I would urge them to do so. It would seem likely that any agent sprayed may also have drifted onto fields on the Israeli side of the fence.

The broader issue of the restrictions on Gaza, including the restricted zone along the fence, remain a significant concern at EU level, and were addressed in the Conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council on 15 January.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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296. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he regards the Israeli confiscation of land and forced transfer of Palestinian Bedouins from the E1 area of the West Bank as contrary to international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3747/16]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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297. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has requested Israel to unequivocally clarify that it will not forcibly transfer Palestinian Bedouin from the El area of the West Bank or seize any land in this area for settlement expansion; if he discussed this during his December 2015 visit to Tel Aviv, Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3748/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.

I have consistently made very clear my opposition to and condemnation of the whole process of settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the related policies of land seizures and forced transfer of population which are an inherent element of the settlement programme. These processes are clearly contrary to international law, and work directly contrary to efforts to secure a lasting peace in the area.

These views have been expressed in statements at national and EU level, in interventions at UN and other international fora, and directly to the Israeli authorities at all appropriate opportunities, at both political and diplomatic level. Both Ireland and the EU have asked Israel not to proceed with its planned forcible transfer of Bedouins from the E1 and other nearby areas.

The Foreign Affairs Council adopted Conclusions on the Middle East at its meeting on 15 January, including expressing the EU’s clear opposition to evictions and forced transfers of Bedouins, and the need for a fundamental change of policy by Israel in relation to Area C. Ireland was instrumental in the adoption of this language.

I did not visit Israel in December 2015.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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298. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has an assessment of Israel’s treatment of minority groups, given the Israeli Supreme Court’s decision to allow the demolition of the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran inside Israel and the removal of its inhabitants against their will; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3749/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Ireland consistently expresses strong and forthright criticisms of Israeli policies in the occupied territory, and its treatment of Palestinians there.

There are also concerns about some issues relating to minorities in Israel, be they Bedouin or other Arab Israelis, which indeed have been the subject of considerable debate in Israel itself.

These concerns have been discussed at EU level. They have been expressed directly to the Israeli authorities in the same way that human rights concerns are raised with many other countries, commensurate with the issues at stake.

Tragically, there are religious, ethnic and other minorities in very many areas in the Middle East, and elsewhere, who are under much greater and more acute threats than in Israel.