Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Oct 2003

Vol. 573 No. 2

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

102 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the serious deterioration of the situation in the town of Jayyous where the Commander of the IDF Forces in Judea/Summaria has declared the Israeli side of the walls to be a closed military zone, meaning that the people of Jayyous who have already been denied access to their fields by the closing of the walls, will now be subject to summary execution if they enter the zone; and if he will make strong representations to the Israeli and UN authorities on this matter. [24656/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen):

I refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave to Question No. 255 in the House on 14 October, in which I set out Ireland's position. The matter of the Israeli security wall was the subject of the resumed emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week. On my instructions, Ireland's delegation co-sponsored the UN resolution, Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

103 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will call on the US authorities to cease their new policy in Iraq of bulldozing groves of orange, lemon, and date palm trees as a form of collective punishment against Iraqi farmers who do not give information to US troops. [24709/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen):

As I explained to this House in answer to a previous question on 24 June and reiterated in a reply to the Deputy last week, the Government have been consistent in making clear to the occupying powers their concerns in relation to obligations under international humanitarian law. This will continue to be the Government's policy. The occupying powers have accepted fully their obligations and responsibilities under international law, most notably in their support for UN Security Council Resolution 1483. I am not aware of the adoption by the US authorities of a policy of collective punishment.