Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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217. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of his priority discussions with his European Union counterparts at the Foreign Affairs Council in January 2023 on the situation of the occupied Palestine territory, as referenced in a recent Parliamentary Question reply; if there were any outcomes as a result of these discussions; the further steps he intends to take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9405/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 January 2023, EU Foreign Ministers had a lunchtime exchange with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, and Palestinian Foreign Minister, Dr Riad Malki, affording them the opportunity to brief EU Ministers on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. There was a strong message of support from the High Representative and EU Ministers for a two-State solution. The discussion also covered the importance of a clear timeline towards holding national Palestinian elections and progressing with the Palestinian reform plan.

Taking concrete steps to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority was a key a priority that I stressed to EU counterparts in advance of the meeting. In this regard, I warmly welcome the commitment to set up an annual high-level political dialogue between the EU and the Palestinian Authority. I also welcome that the perspective of launching negotiations on a full Association Agreement, which would formally be concluded upon Palestinian statehood, was also discussed.

As the Deputy is aware, there have been further troubling developments on the ground since the meeting in January, which have warranted a firm public response from the international community, including the EU. In this regard, I underline in particular the condemnation by EU High Representative Borrell, following his trilateral meeting with the Saudi Foreign Minister and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, of the decision by the Israeli Government to “legalise”, under Israeli law, nine settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank.

I also welcome that there was agreement at this trilateral meeting on the urgent need to revive and safeguard the prospect of the two-State solution and on follow-up work with a view to developing proposals to mobilise members of the Arab League, the EU, and relevant international partners to coordinate efforts in this space.

This is consistent with the priorities that I set out to EU partners during the course of our discussions at the January FAC, in particular the need for clear messaging on the issue of Israeli settlement activities and for renewed and concrete efforts to restore a political horizon.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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218. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in the context of his recent reply concerning the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, how he proposes that the international community should practically support the Palestinian Authority in its recourse to legal and political responses to the occupation; the role he envisages for civil society in this regard; the action that has been taken by Ireland's European Union partners to impede the further development of illegal settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9406/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am deeply concerned by the recent negative developments in the occupied Palestinian territory and reiterate that the focus of all parties, including the international community, must be on urgent de-escalation and on the restoration of a genuine political horizon.

I welcome that the UN Security Council, following a request by the Palestinian Authority, expressed itself in clear terms on this issue in its Presidential Statement of 20 February, reiterating that “continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines”.

In a joint statement following their trilateral meeting on 13 February, EU High Representative Borrell, the Saudi Foreign Minister and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, condemned the decision by the Israeli Government to “legalise”, under Israeli law, nine settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank. I welcome that there was also agreement at this trilateral meeting on the urgent need to revive and safeguard the prospect of the two-State solution and on follow-up work with a view to developing proposals to mobilise members of the Arab League, the EU, and relevant international partners to coordinate efforts in this space.

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland also supported the request of the UN General Assembly to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on issues arising from Israel’s continuing occupation of Palestinian territory and I welcome that these proceedings have now been formally launched.

Ireland is committed to funding civil society organisations and human rights defenders, including Palestinian civil society, through the Irish Aid programme. Ireland is a member of the West Bank Protection Consortium, which plays a leading role in supporting threatened communities in the occupied Palestinian territory and coordinating the provision of essential services to them, including material assistance and legal aid. Ireland’s membership of the Consortium underlines our commitment to reducing the vulnerability of Palestinian communities living in Area C of the West Bank. Civil society organisations and human rights defenders play a critical role in promoting international law, peace, human rights and democratic values.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the prospects for a two state solution given the new Israeli Governments' stated position that Jews alone have an exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the land of Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9419/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the position to which the Deputy refers and would recall that it is Ireland’s long-standing position that policies and practices of successive Israeli governments relating to illegal settlements and their expansion, as well as expulsions, forced transfers and demolitions, undermine prospects for a two-State solution, and are a major obstacle to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace.

The continued establishment and expansion of settlements is a violation of international law and is unacceptable. Ireland reiterated this position at the UN Security Council on 19 December, which focused on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2334. On that occasion, Ireland also led a joint press statement by a number of States demanding that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in that regard.

It is deeply concerning that the stated intentions of the Israeli Government continue to show disregard for the clear international consensus around this issue. It is important that the international community supports the Palestinian Authority in its recourse to legal and political responses to the occupation. In this regard, I welcome that the UN Security Council adopted, by consensus on 20 February, a Presidential Statement addressing a number of concerning recent developments. In this Statement, the Council expresses its opposition to “all unilateral measures that impede peace, including, inter alia, Israeli construction and expansion of settlements, confiscation of Palestinians’ land, and the ‘legalization’ of settlement outposts, demolition of Palestinians’ homes and displacement of Palestinian civilians”. The EU High Representative High Representative for Foreign Affairs has also condemned the decision by the Israeli Government to “legalise”, under Israeli law, nine settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank.

Ireland remains committed to supporting all efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting two-State solution, with the Jerusalem as the capital of both States, on the basis of international law and agreed international parameters.