Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 3

Written Answers. - Palestinian Deaths in Ramallah.

Ray Burke

Question:

11 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his and the EU's reaction to the killings of seven Palestinians in the west bank city of Ramallah; and the action, if any, he intends taking to re-establish the peace process in the area. [17471/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

As the Deputy is aware, there have been several violent incidents in Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank and Gaza which have resulted in the deaths of at least 79 people. Ireland and our European Union partners are appalled at this violence and the casualties it has caused. I wish to offer the families of those who lost their lives sincere condolences, both on my own behalf and on behalf of the European Union.

I am also gravely concerned about the implications of the unrest for the future of the Middle East Peace Process. The ongoing disturbances are undermining the partnership that has been developing between the Israelis and Palestinians within the framework of the peace process. As we declared at the Florence European Council in June 1996, peace in the Middle East is a fundamental interest of the European Union. We are committed to the peace process as the only means of achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the conflict.

On Thursday September 26, Ireland as Presidency of the Union issued a statement on the unrest. In that statement we urged all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to work to avoid further confrontation. The Presidency underlined the importance of re-establishing international confidence and demonstrating commitment to the peace process.

In this regard we welcome the initiative to host a meeting in Washington between the parties. We hope that it will lead to the recommencement of constructive negotiations on the basis of the principles of the 1991 Madrid Conference establishing the Middle East Peace Process and the terms of the 1993 Declaration of Principles on Palestinian Self-Rule. The Union is ready to play an active part in efforts to recommence negotiations. As President of the Council of Ministers, I invited President Arafat to Luxembourg for a meeting with the EU Troika on the eve of the General Affairs Council on 1-2 October. We had the opportunity to exchange views with him on the recent crisis. We agreed to keep in close contact in the follow-up to the Washington initiative.

The General Affairs Council on 1-2 October adopted a Declaration which sets out the position of the Union at this critical juncture in the peace process. The declaration calls upon both parties to avoid resorting to disproportionate force and to exercise restraint and sets out clearly those areas where the Union believes that progress is crucial to the peace process: the implementation of the agreements already reached including redeployment from Hebron and the release of Palestinian prisoners; positive steps to alleviate the economic plight of the Palestinians including the early lifting of closures, guaranteeing safe passage between Gaza and the West Bank, and the lifting of obstacles to international aid efforts; resumption of full co-operation in order to ensure internal security both in Israel and the areas under Palestinian authority; refraining from measures that prejudge the outcome of the final status negotiations, including annexation of land, demolition of houses, new settlement construction and expansion of settlements; and engagement of the next stage of negotiations as set down in the Declaration of Principles.

Ireland as Presidency of the EU intends to undertake a ministerial Troika to the Middle East in the near future. The purpose of the visit will be to ensure the EU's visibility in the region and, as the region's economic partner, to enable it to contribute to the effort to restore momentum to the peace process.