Vol. 394 No. 4
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, having regard to the special relationship between Bethlehem University and University College Dublin, he will protest to the Israeli Government against the closing of Bethlehem University for the past two years.
58.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will call on the Government of Israel to reopen the schools and universities in the occupied territories of Palestine which have been closed by the occupying Israeli Administration for the past two years.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together.
The situation of the schools and universities, in the Occupied Territories, including Bethlehem University, has been raised with the Israeli authorities on numerous occasions over the past two years, both bilaterally and in association with the Twelve. I shall continue to monitor the question closely, including the need for further approaches to the Israeli authorities.
The European Council in a Declaration on the Middle East issued on 9 December 1989 recalled the need for the occupying power to observe strictly its obligations under the 4th Geneva Convention to which it has notably not conformed in such a basic area as education. The Twelve, in a statement issued on 6 October 1989, requested the Israeli Government in the strongest terms to end without delay the closure of the universities and other higher education institutions. They stressed the need to ensure the normal functioning of schools and universities. They also resolved to further develop actions to assist the proper functioning of educational institutions at school and university level.
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs made clear in the Seanad on 30 November 1989 the Government's deep concern at the measures taken to deny the Palestinian people their right to education and Ireland's direct interest in education through the co-operation which University College Dublin maintains with Bethlehem University.
On a bilateral level we have expressed our concern at the closure of Bethlehem University directly to the Israeli authorities. Moreover, our Ambassador in Baghdad who is accredited to Jordan, regularly calls on Bethlehem University in the course of his visits to the West Bank in order to underline our interest.
