Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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147. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Government's position in relation to Israel and Palestine. [2759/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland, along with our EU partners, supports the achievement of a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that meets Israeli and Palestinian security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, ends the occupation that began in 1967, and resolves all permanent status issues in order to end the conflict. This issue has a personal priority for me since I took up office as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Ireland and the EU support political efforts to encourage a resumption of direct negotiations, which are ultimately the only way to achieve peace. Ireland and the EU also engage in action on the ground on human rights and justice issues affecting Palestinians under occupation, including settlement activity, which is progressively endangering prospects for a peace agreement.

In recent months the new United States administration has been actively exploring the possibilities for re-launching the process to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. This engagement is welcome, and I have met myself with the US team to encourage their work, and to underline to them the key parameters for an agreement which the EU has long espoused.

I was very disappointed at the US announcement recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and initiating steps to move the US Embassy, which I believe was premature and ill-advised, and unhelpful to efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. Ireland was one of 128 UN Member States which supported a UN General Assembly resolution stressing that the Holy City “is a final status issue to be resolved through negotiations in line with relevant UN resolutions.”

In discussions with my EU colleagues, at the Foreign Affairs Council yesterday, I again urged the EU to play a positive role in an appropriate US peace initiative. The EU will also continue work on the ground to help preserve and create the political and physical space in which the two state solution can be achieved. I am actively exploring with EU colleagues how this can best be done.

Earlier this month, I visited Israel and Palestine for the second time in my role Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and in all of my meetings – with Israelis, Palestinians, and UN partners – I conveyed the importance the Irish people attach to the resolution of the Middle East Peace Process.

In my meetings with the Israeli authorities, I expressed Ireland’s concerns about the impact of the continuing occupation, including settlement construction and the effects on minors who are detained. I had a frank discussion with Prime Minister Netanyahu about the prospects for returning to negotiations between the parties, and how Ireland and the EU can play a constructive role in the MEPP.

I also had the opportunity to meet with Palestinian President Abbas, whom I met again at the Foreign Affairs Council yesterday, and urged him to keep an open mind on any proposal the US may bring forward. In my meeting with Foreign Minister Malki, I discussed the challenges facing the Palestinian people, the prospects for reinvigorating peace negotiations, and efforts to restore the Palestinian Authority to its role in Gaza – work that I encouraged and supported.