Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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65. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Israeli Government will be requested to reinstate the mandate of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron following its expulsion from the region (details supplied). [8781/19]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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66. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that observers from the ecumenical accompaniment programme in Palestine and Israel, EAPPI, have been withdrawn recently following a rise in harassment by settlers following the withdrawal of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, TIPH; and the steps he will take to request the Israeli Government for the reinstatement of both the TIPH and the EAPPI. [8782/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together.

I was deeply disappointed by Israel’s announcement that the mandate for the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) would not be renewed. The TIPH, a civilian observer mission which was established in 1997 as part of United Nations Security Council Resolution 904 and the Oslo II accords, has played an important role in mitigating tension and conflict in Hebron. This conflict prevention mechanism has continued to meet a vital need, and no adequate reason has been given for the decision to end its mandate, which would seem to be a unilateral breach by Israel of the Oslo Accords.

The withdrawal of the international presence is likely to accentuate tensions on the ground in an already fragile situation in Hebron. Ireland regrets this decision and I call on Israel to reverse it. Ireland stands with the EU in stressing that Israel must fulfil its obligations under international law, as an occupying power, to protect the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory. This decision will instead reduce those protections, leaving Palestinians more vulnerable to persistent attacks by settlers.

As the Deputy has noted, the observers from the ecumenical accompaniment programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) have also suffered from increasing settler attacks, and the withdrawal of the TIPH has now led the EAPPI to conclude that it too must withdraw its volunteers from Hebron. Many Irish volunteers have participated in the EAPPI programme over the years, and my Department has met with them from time to time, and values their work. Both the TIPH and the EAPPI in Hebron have been engaged in protecting children going to school from attacks by settlers, something which will have immediate resonance with Irish people. These children too are now under increased risk.

Ireland will continue to take a firm stance on matters relating to the Palestinian people and the Middle East Peace Process. At Israel’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council last year, Ireland raised the continued expansion of settlements, and urged that Israel abide by its international legal obligations, including under the Fourth Geneva Convention, on the treatment of a civilian population under military occupation. I reiterated our concerns about these policies in my speech to the UN General Assembly in September. The Israeli authorities are well aware of our views, and we will certainly convey our specific concerns about the case of Hebron.