Written Answers Nos. 33-37
35. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that five unarmed civilians were shot dead by the Israeli armed forces in January 2013, four in the West Bank and one in Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8859/13]
View answer36. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the B’Tselem report on Israel’s use of crowd control weapons in the West Bank, as a result of which ten Palestinian civilians have been killed since 2005, in addition to the 46 civilians killed by firing live ammunition at stone throwers; and if he will raise the issues with the Israeli authorities. [8860/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.
The use of force by Israeli authorities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has long been a matter of serious concern to me. I have always accepted Israel’s right to defend itself, and security forces themselves have a right to defend themselves, but consistent and repeated reports suggest a routine use of force, including lethal force, in circumstances where little threat was posed by those against whom it was used. The rules or guidelines governing the use of crowd control weapons are either too permissive or are not being thoroughly enforced. It is notable that different thresholds for the use of force in crowd control appear to apply depending on whether protesters are Israelis or Palestinians. Even in the West Bank, where Israeli military authority applies generally, the reaction of the security forces to demonstrations by Palestinians or Israeli settlers is completely different.
It is important to note also that most Palestinian demonstrations take place in their own home villages or areas, and relate to intrusions by Israeli authorities into their lives there. Demonstrations are routinely subject to banning or exclusion orders which render them illegal, and crowd control weapons are then used against those illegally assembled. In this way legitimate protests are suppressed, and conflated with more serious violent attacks by militant groups. The result is a steady toll of Palestinian fatalities in non-threatening situations which should be wholly unacceptable in any civilised society.
In any situation of military occupation, particularly one so long prolonged, there is a constant risk of security forces becoming desensitized to use of force, of ‘last resort’ measures being routinely or improperly used, and of breaches of rules not being punished or indeed being actively condoned. The publication last month of a report on the use of crowd control weapons by B’Tselem, a noted Israeli human rights group, has helped to highlight these issues.
I have noted with great concern the rise in Palestinian fatalities in recent months, including those cases mentioned in the Question, suggesting that these problems are worsening. These concerns have been raised in recent weeks by Irish diplomats directly with the Israeli authorities, both here and in Israel, and in discussions at EU level. The Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv has organised a briefing of EU Missions by B’Tselem, which will take place tomorrow, to help draw wider attention to their recent report.
37. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the aid that has been provided to Mali arising from the conflict there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8935/13]
View answerThe political crisis and ongoing conflict in Mali has compounded an already serious humanitarian situation, in which millions of people have been affected by drought, hunger and food insecurity across the Sahel region. The conflict has forced half a million Malians from their homes, with the latest fighting uprooting thousands more and bringing the total number of refugees in neighbouring countries to more than 160,000 people.
In 2012, the Government provided funding of €9.25 million for emergency food, water and health care to communities affected by the crisis across the Sahel region. This funding was channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross movement and NGO partners. Some €1,100,000 of this funding is currently supporting Christian Aid, Oxfam and Trócaire to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities in Mali, through emergency food aid, as well as water and sanitation services. A further €250,000 is helping our NGO partner Plan to provide essential water and sanitation services to Malian refugees who have fled the conflict to Burkina Faso.
The Government remains in regular contact with our humanitarian partners who are operating in Mali and the wider Sahel region. In close collaboration with the UN, the European Union and our NGO partners, we continue to monitor the humanitarian situation as well as the effectiveness of the contribution which we have made to date. We stand ready to provide further assistance to those affected by the conflict on the basis of the needs on the ground.
