Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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585. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that the Israeli army is renewing its attempt to destroy two Bedouin villages (details supplied); that bulldozers could move in at any moment and demolish the two villages, evict the residents and make way for new villages on the same sites with similar names but restricted to Israeli citizens with Jewish nationality only; and if he will raise Ireland’s objection to this illegal move with his Israeli counterpart. [9801/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The situation in the two villages referred to by the Deputy are different in nature.

Susiya, in the south Hebron hills in the occupied Palestinian Territory, is a community of herders, although they are not Bedouin. It has already been subject to demolition on number of occasions over many years, including destruction of caves and tents used by residents after their houses were destroyed. The intention is clearly to drive the residents off the land and into the city of Hebron, so that their land can be used for expansion of nearby Israeli settlements. We have discussed this case on a number of occasions in the Dáil, and it is indeed a textbook example of the injustice which is an inherent element of the settlement project, and a powerful argument for the need to end the occupation.

Ireland and our EU partners, together and nationally, have on many occasions made clear to the Israeli authorities our objections to this illegal and unacceptable behaviour. This has included representations to the Ambassador and other Israeli officials here in Dublin, directly to the Israeli authorities in Jerusalem, and physical presence by Irish and EU diplomats at the village at times of particular threat. It is unfortunately not possible to ensure protection of all threatened communities all of the time. EU missions endeavour to keep alert to the situation in the village, but the threat of demolition is ever present. The local community and concerned organisations are unaware of any specific heightened threat at this time.

The other case raised by the Deputy is of a different nature. This village is one of a number of unapproved settlements of Israeli Bedouins in the Negev area of southern Israel, particularly in the vicinity of the growing city of Beer Sheva. Israeli authorities have been trying for some years to move some of these communities to new approved villages, as part of the planning for the expansion of Beer Sheva.

This is a complex issue, and has been the subject of extensive political debate, legal processes and variations of planning within Israel. There are indeed concerns about social disadvantage and unequal treatment experienced by Bedouin communities in Israel. But there are similar concerns about the position of Bedouin in many Arab countries in the region, and indeed of marginalised communities in many countries, including in Europe. The basis and scope for international action is accordingly less evident.