Vol. 414 No. 5
7 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to a media report (details supplied) on the appalling activities of the Israeli armed forces and their surrogates, the SLA in Southern Lebanon; and whether he will raise this matter at the EC Foreign Affairs Council and seek an effective response which will bring home to Israel the horror of Ireland and the EC at such awful behaviour.
I have seen the newspaper report referred to in the Deputy's question. The account of the incident in that report is corroborated by other sources, including in particular a report by the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council. The incident occurred during an incursion by the Israeli sponsored de facto forces and by the Israeli defence forces itself into the UNIFIL area at the village of Majdal Silm on the night of 19-20 November last. A local family, the Yassins, were forcibly removed from their home and the male members separated from the females and taken away. During the course of the abduction, ten-year old Amal Yassin attempted to follow her father and was shot 20 times. When the female family members attempted to return to their home, it exploded as they approached, inflicting severe injuries on several of them, including injuries to their other children.
I strongly condemn this outrage committed against innocent Lebanese women and children, as well as the kidnapping of civilians from their homes. Actions of this nature, by whomsoever committed in Lebanon, can only add to the suffering endured by the Lebanese people and serve to undermine the current peace process which holds out the genuine prospect of a political settlement in the region.
The situation in Lebanon, including that in the South, is kept under regular review in the framework of European Political Co-operation. Foreign Ministers of the Twelve will continue to assess the situation there, especially in the context of the current peace process and will convey their views as appropriate to the Israeli Government. The Israeli authorities can be in no doubt as to the position of Ireland and the Twelve in regard to Lebanon and to the wider issues of the need to respect and uphold human rights.
I am very glad that the Minister joins with me in condemning this frightful barbarity. Will he confirm that he has conveyed the views of the Irish Government to the Israeli ambassador, who is in town at present? Indeed, on behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I conveyed our views to him this very day. Will the Minister confirm also that he will raise issues such as this at EC level?
As I said in my reply, there is continuous monitoring of the situation in the Middle East in the framework of European Political Co-operation, and by the Foreign Ministers involved. Our position in regard to the situation generally is clearly outlined on behalf of the EC by the president of the Council of Foreign Ministers, Mr. Van Den Broek, at the opening of the peace conference in Madrid recently. I am aware that tomorrow I will have an opportunity of personally conveying on behalf of the Government our total condemnation of outrages such as this.
