Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2012
56. Deputy James Bannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been in contact with the UN in relation to calling on Israel to abide by their obligations under international law to protect and respect the rights of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53393/12]
View answer57. Deputy James Bannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the serious and negative humanitarian consequences imposed on the civilian population of the Gaza Strip brought about by Israel and the lack of respect for international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53394/12]
View answer58. Deputy James Bannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the serious curtailment of agricultural practice and the undermining of rural livelihoods, throughout the Gaza Strip, which is bringing about a serious food crisis, as the crossings are closed and furthermore the animal sector is suffering from a decrease of open areas and decreased fodder production because of the buffer zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53395/12]
View answer59. Deputy James Bannon asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the numerous indiscriminate and deadly acts of violence against the civilian population of the Gaza Strip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53396/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 56 to 59, inclusive, together.
In relation to the recent conflict in and around Gaza, I refer the Deputy to my public statements of 15 and 18 November, the Conclusions of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 19 November, and to my reply to Question 189 [53032/12] on 27 November. I have made clear, both on this occasion and in previous discussions with the Israeli authorities and at EU level, that Israel’s right to defend itself – which I fully accept – cannot be exercised in disregard of the rights of others, and must respect the principles of international law.
Ireland has consistently sought, both in discussions at EU level and bilaterally in the region, to ensure that the ongoing problems of Gaza are not lost sight of in the many competing issues and crises in the Middle East. I have continually stressed that the blockade of Gaza, as currently operated, is both unjust and counterproductive, and impacts particularly on the ordinary people of Gaza. Prominent among these damaging effects is the maintenance of a de facto exclusion zone of between 500 metres and a kilometre on the Gaza side of the security fence, in which Palestinian residents will be fired on if they enter. The object of this exclusion zone is to make it more difficult for militants in Gaza to attack Israeli forces on the border, but it has the very serious effect of rendering some 17% of the very scarce agricultural land of Gaza unusable. Similar measures have restricted Gaza’s small fishing fleet to a fraction of the available waters, from which fish stocks have now been almost entirely depleted.
These measures, coupled with general economic collapse caused by the blockade, have resulted in a large proportion of Gaza’s population being dependent on direct food aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Administration, to which Ireland is a significant contributor. Despite this massive and costly relief, instances of malnutrition nonetheless still occur.
I will continue to strongly argue for the easing of these damaging measures. I welcome the fact that the recent understanding on a renewed ceasefire in Gaza has included provision for active discussion of these issues, linked to a lasting cessation of attacks on Israel from Gaza. I have been pleased to note some early indications – small but potentially important – of a relaxation in the regime of restrictions on both fishermen and farmers in the border strip.
