Paul Connaughton
Question:16 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9990/04]
View answerWednesday, 31 March 2004
Questions (16, 17, 18)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:58 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the Israeli assassination of Sheikh Yassin constitutes a breach of the human rights clause contained in Article 2 of the EU Association Agreement with Israel; if he has raised or will raise this issue with his European colleagues; the action he proposes to be taken by the EU; the action he proposes to be taken by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9966/04]
View answer
Joan Burton
Question:103 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is concerned at the failure of the Government of the United States to condemn the assassination by Israeli forces of the Hamas leader, Sheik Ahmed Yassin. [9893/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 58, and 103 together.
The position of Ireland on the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was fully reflected in the statement agreed by the Foreign Ministers of the European Union and acceding countries during their meeting on the day of the killing. Foreign Ministers condemned the particular killing and recalled the position of the European Union on extra-judicial killings in general. In their statement they said:
The European Union has repeatedly condemned the terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas which have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis. The EU recognises Israel's right to protect its citizens against terrorist attacks. Israel is entitled to do this under international law. Israel is not, however, entitled to carry out extra-judicial killings. Furthermore, the assassination which has just been carried out has inflamed the situation. The Council called on all sides to exercise restraint and to refrain from acts of violence, which will only lead to more deaths and will put a peaceful settlement still further from reach.
The contents of the Foreign Ministers' statement were conveyed to the Israeli authorities immediately.
The complete opposition of Ireland to extra-judicial killings is well known. Extra-judicial killings are in contravention of international law and do nothing to increase security or advance the peace process and this is also the position of the European Union. The Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel commits both sides to conduct their relations on the basis of respect for human rights and democratic principles. The policy of extra-judicial killing calls into question Israel's commitment to this element of the Association Agreement. The concerns of the European Union about Israeli conduct were raised by the Foreign Ministers of the European Union with Israel during the last Association Council in November.
I have noted the reactions of a number of United States representatives to this assassination. Like the European Union, the United States is firmly opposed to extra-judicial killings. As far as I am aware there has been no change in that position. It is the sovereign right of each country to decide how it wishes to express its position.