Written answers

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Middle East Peace Process

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on Israel's rejection of the UN and EU calls for an independent inquiry into the recent atrocities in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24674/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On Friday 18 May the UN Human Rights Council held a Special Session to consider the recent events in Gaza. The HRC adopted a resolution – which was co-sponsored by Ireland – which includes provision to establish a Commission of Inquiry into these events. The current President of the HRC will now take this forward.

Israeli Ministers have responded with public statements indicating that they refuse to recognise the inquiry, and will not co-operate with it. This is the same position taken by Israel in recent years in relation to previous UN inquiries, when non-cooperation was undertaken to the extent of refusing to allow the inquiry to enter the country and take evidence.

The Israeli response is not unexpected, but is nonetheless deeply regrettable. I and other EU Ministers have acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself, while at the same time making strong criticisms of what we saw as its excessive and unjustified use of force in this instance. Israel has claimed to have been engaged in legitimate self-defence, but its refusal to cooperate with scrutiny of that claim, and to explain and justify its actions, sends an unfortunate signal. The need for an international inquiry arose, in part, due to the fact that Israel did not conduct a comprehensive review of the use of deadly force on previous occasions.

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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169. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has formally made known his views to the US Administration on the decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24675/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s view of the move of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem was expressed in my statement of 6 December when the decision was announced. I stated that the decision was premature and ill-advised, and would be unhelpful to efforts to reach a resolution of the Middle East Peace Process, something which is very urgently needed. Indeed prior to this announcement, I had conveyed to the US Government my concern about reports of their intentions. Very many other governments around the world, including those like us which are long-standing friends of the United States, did the same. The announcement, when it was made, was thus very disappointing and difficult to understand.

These views have also been expressed in statements at EU level, and in direct contacts with US officials, by myself and officers of my Department. The US Government can be in no doubt about our view on this question.

Ireland looks forward in due course to establishing Embassies in Jerusalem to both Israel and the future Palestinian state, following the conclusion of a peace agreement and in accordance with international law. Until then, our Embassy to Israel will remain in Tel Aviv.

Efforts to restart the Middle East peace process are currently centred on the initiative being developed by the United States. The US move on Jerusalem has unfortunately made this initiative more difficult, but I believe that it is essential that these efforts persist. I have spoken at the Foreign Affairs Council to urge EU partners to engage with the US to encourage this initiative and to seek to shape it and ensure that it is in line with the key parameters for a settlement. I have myself spoken with the US Middle East team a number of times in this regard. I also spoke with Israeli and Palestinian leaders last week on this issue.

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