Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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75. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Israeli authorities approved plans for 2,342 housing units in illegal Israeli colonial settlements and a new tunnel road in Palestine in October 2019 (details supplied); if he has raised the issue with his Israeli counterpart; and his plans to respond to the alleged continued violations of international law and increased illegal colonial settlement building by Israel. [46432/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland's position on settlement expansion, related infrastructure development, demolition of Palestinian homes and other buildings, and forced removal of Palestinians from their homes, is extremely clear. All actions which compromise the viability of a future Palestinian state are very damaging. Such unilateral actions further diminish the prospects for successful negotiations and an end to the conflict, something which I firmly believe is in the best interests of both Israelis and Palestinians.

On the 4th of November, the EEAS issued a statement with regard to the recent developments to which the Deputy refers. The statement noted that the “all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace, as reaffirmed by UN Security Council Resolution 2334” and continues, “the EU calls on Israel to end all settlement activity, in line with its obligations as an occupying power.” Ireland fully supports this statement.

Ireland and the EU stand by the internationally agreed parameters for a negotiated peace agreement and continue to urge the Israeli Government to uphold its international legal obligations, including under the Fourth Geneva Convention, on the treatment of a civilian population. Ireland will continue to convey our concerns on related developments on the ground in all relevant international fora, as well as directly with the Israeli authorities.