Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 2

Written Answers. - Israeli/Palestine Conflict.

Bernard Allen

Question:

30 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use Ireland's position in the international fora to call for an international conference on the Israeli/Palestine conflict which has resulted in the loss of so many lives in the recent past.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

40 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland supports the implementation of United Nations Resolution 242.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 40 together.

I have repeatedly stressed that once the war in the Gulf has ended Ireland together with our partners in the European Community will contribute actively to assure a future of peace, stability and development for all the peoples of the region. We are at present considering within the Community the best ways of doing this, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian problem must be dealt with as a priority.

The policy of Ireland and its partners in the European Community rests on two fundamental principles the right of all states in the area, including Israel, to exist within secure recognised and guaranteed borders; and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination with all that this implies. We believe that a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict should be on the basis of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and on the principle of "land for peace".

The European Council meeting, held in Rome on 14-15 December last reaffirmed the long standing commitment of the Community and its member states to a just and lasting solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian problem in conformity with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and with the principles expressed by the European Community in its previous declaration. To this end, the European Council reaffirmed its support for the principle of convening, at an appropriate time, an international peace conference under the auspices of the UN.

Ireland has used its position in international fora to call for an international conference. In my statement to the United Nations General Assembly last September I made such a call. At the General Assembly we supported Resolution 45/68 which,inter alia, invites the Security Council to consider measures needed to convene an international peace conference.