Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 1997

Vol. 480 No. 6

Written Answers - Middle East Peace Process.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

50 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact, if any, he has had with the Israeli authorities in relation to ongoing Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem which is in direct conflict with the Oslo accords. [14746/97]

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

73 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position on the current difficulties in the Middle East peace process; the representations, if any, the Government has made to the Israeli authorities regarding the increased incursions by Israeli settlers into Arab land in East Jerusalem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14715/97]

Dan Neville

Question:

74 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current status of the Middle-East peace process; and the action, if any, colleagues in the EU General Affairs Council have been taking to advance this process. [14615/97]

Dick Spring

Question:

91 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions or contacts, if any, he has had with the Palestinian Authorities in recent weeks; and the action, if any, he proposes to take in relation to the determination of the advancement of the MEPP. [14659/97]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. R. Burke):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 73, 74 and 91 together.

I attach the greatest importance to the full implementation of the Middle East Peace Process in accordance with the Oslo Agreement of September 1993. It was, accordingly, with considerable dismay that I noted the gradual slowing down of the process since early this year. Continued Israeli settlement activity in East Jerusalem, the closure of the border between Israel and the Palestinian administered territories, and the refusal by Israel to reimburse the Palestinian authority taxes collected on its behalf following the recent terrorist atrocities — which I have condemned — effectively brought the process to a standstill by last month.

At the UN last week, I drew attention in my statement to the general assembly to the dangers arising from the current impasse in the peace process and the need for all the parties to put the process back on track.

In bilateral discussions with the US Secretary of State, and with the Egyptian and Jordanian Foreign Ministers, and with others, I reiterated the commitment of the Government to continue to work, together with our EU partners, for the re-activation of the peace process.

I am happy to note that the discussions to which both sides agreed during the recent visit of the US Secretary of State will shortly take place. If these are approached in the right spirit the process can be re-activated in the near future.

Both the Taoiseach and I met with the Palestinian delegate general in early July. A senior official of my Department paid a visit to the region earlier this month when he met with representatives of both sides, including members of the Palestinian authority in East Jerusalem. I will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation and to encourage both sides to advance the process as rapidly as possible.

At the General Affairs Council on 15 September, the Council considered the current state of the peace process, including the economic consequences of Israel's recent actions. The Commission identified some 4 million ecu which could be used to assist the Palestinian authority in the wake of the Israeli refusal to reimburse the Palestinian tax revenues.

A meeting of the EU Troika with the Israeli Foreign Minister took place last weeken marge of the United Nation's General Assembly at New York.

The Government is seriously concerned at the settlement policy of the Israeli Government and has availed of all appropriate opportunities to make known our concern. Together with our partners in the EU we see further settlements as a clear and dangerous obstacle to the dialogue for peace in the Middle East.

This assessment is shared not only by our European Union partners, but also by the wider international community. This was clearly evidenced at the emergency special session of the UN General Assembly in July by the overwhelming vote, including Ireland's, in favour of a resolution which recommended that UN members actively discourage activities which contribute to Israeli settlement-building in the occupied territories including Jerusalem. Together with our EU partners we will continue to monitor the situation closely.