Trevor Sargent
Question:50 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has urged the Israeli Government to withdraw its troops from the West Bank and Gaza Strip in order to speed up the peace process. [7379/95]
Written Answers. - Middle East Peace Process.
The Declaration of Principles between Israel and the PLO which entered into effect on 13 October 1993 provides for a redeployment of Israeli military forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Declaration of Principles also provides that redeployment must take place not later than the eve of Palestinian elections. Ireland, together with its EU partners, called for the full and early implementation of the Declaration of Principles.
The Declaration of Principles set 13 July 1994 as the date by which elections were to take place, but this deadline has not been met. Last month a new target date of 1 July 1995 was set for reaching agreement on the redeployment of Israeli troops and on the holding of elections. If agreement is reached by that date, it is anticipated that the elections will take place at the end of a further 100 day period.
I regard the early convening of Palestinian elections as being of very considerable importance to the success of the Peace Process. Our concerns on this question and on the attendant redeployment of Israeli troops have been made known to the Israeli authorities.
The EU General Affairs Council on 19 April 1994 adopted a Joint Action, on the basis of the Treaty on European Union, in support of the Middle East Peace Process. The Joint Action indicated the EU's willingness to help in preparing and observing the Palestinian elections. The Council on 10 April last confirmed that undertaking and encouraged the continuation of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on the subject of the elections.