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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Oct 2003

Vol. 571 No. 4

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

254 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations the Government has made concerning the Israeli threat to expel President Yasser Arafat from the West Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20398/03]

As I said in the House in response to a similar question on 1 October, I made the position of the Government clear in my statement of 12 September within hours of the Israeli Cabinet meeting. The Israeli security Cabinet's decision to expel President Arafat poses a serious threat to the Middle East peace process. President Arafat is the elected leader of the Palestinian people and should, therefore, play a central role in negotiations that would lead to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. Any attempts by the Israelis to forcibly remove President Arafat would lead to a major upsurge in violence.

Ireland also voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution, on 19 September, which demanded that Israel cease any threat to remove President Arafat. This concern was further reiterated in the Taoiseachs address to the UN General Assembly on 25 September when he told the world leaders assembled in New York that threats to expel or assassinate President Arafat are deeply misguided and dangerous and can only further delay efforts to achieve a settlement. The European Union, the United States and countries of the region have also warned the Israeli Government of the dangers of any attempt to expel President Arafat.

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