Foreign Conflicts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (66)

Seán Crowe

Question:

66. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to a recent case in which it is reported that Israeli soldiers illegally detained a five year old child in Hebron; that the age of criminal responsibility for Israelis and Palestinians is 12 years old and it is forbidden by law to detain or arrest a child under the age of 12; and if he will raise the case with the Israeli authorities and ask for an explanation for what appears to be the routine procedure of detaining Palestinian children illegally. [36930/13]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. According to reports received, an incident occurred on the afternoon of 9 July 2013 when seven Israeli Defence Force soldiers and an officer were involved in detaining a five-year-old Palestinian child. The child was detained in Hebron after he reportedly threw a stone at a car belonging to a settler. I understand that he was taken home and then transferred with his father to the Palestinian police. No charges were filed and both father and son were released. Under Israeli military law the age of criminal responsibility is 12. Ireland has raised this incident in human rights discussions with EU partners in Israel, and it was agreed that the EU will include this incident in human rights concerns raised in the context of EU political dialogue with Israel. The EU has developed agreed priority actions on the protection of children in armed conflict as part of the EU strategy on human rights in Israel. The Israeli Defence Forces has stated it has put in place measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The Irish Embassy in Israel will continue to closely monitor the situation.