Dan Neville
Question:53 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the Israeli Government the shooting of a person (details supplied). [26494/02]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Emmet Stagg
Question:73 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations he has made to the Israeli Government regarding the shooting dead of a UN official (details supplied) in Jenin on 22 November 2002 and the wounding of an Irish citizen (details supplied); the response he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26531/02]
Dan Boyle
Question:101 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contacts his Department has had with a person (details supplied) since this person was wounded in November 2002 by Israeli soldiers in the Jenin refugee camp; the contacts his Department has had with the Israeli authorities concerning the shooting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26481/02]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:174 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 28 November 2002, the nature of the answer the Irish ambassador in Tel Aviv has received from the Israeli Government regarding the requested investigation into the shooting of a person (details supplied) by the Israeli Defence Forces; and if the ambassador has received any indication that action will be taken against those responsible. [26834/02]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 53, 73, 101 and 174 together.
I have condemned the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces in Jenin on 22 November, in which an Irish peace activist was injured and a UN official was killed in separate shooting incidents. These, and other incidents, involving the excessive use of force by Israeli forces in the occupied territories are of deepest concern to the Government.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, our ambassador in Tel Aviv, on my instructions, made urgent representations to the Israeli authorities requesting that they undertake without delay a full examination of this incident, and advise us of the outcome. My Department has also raised the Government's concern with the Israeli ambassador in Dublin. In particular, I have asked to be informed of any measures taken in respect of the person or persons responsible. I am awaiting the formal reply of the Israeli authorities.
In addition, both the ambassador to Israel and the head of our representative office in Ramallah visited the Irish person concerned in hospital in Jenin the day after the incident and remains in close contact with her and her family. The Department, working closely with the embassy in Tel Aviv and the representative office in Ramal lah, continues to provide all possible consular assistance.