Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
23. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza; that Israel is deepening the crisis due to its continued blockade and bombing of Gaza; and if he will raise the issue with the Israeli authorities. [1438/14]
View answer29. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will condemn the recent aerial bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli authorities; if he will campaign within the EU for an ending of the favourable treatment of Israel by calling for the cessation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and an ending of their involvement in Horizon 2020. [1265/14]
View answer30. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with his EU counterparts following the recent air strikes carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip; his views on the need to end the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1431/14]
View answer38. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the representations he has made to the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to lift the blockade on Gaza following the severe flooding in northern Gaza. [55313/13]
View answer39. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the assistance he is giving to the people of Gaza following the recent severe flooding in northern Gaza. [55314/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 29, 30, 38 and 39 together.
In relation to the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza, the impact of the blockade, and the humanitarian assistance provided by Ireland in response, I would refer to my detailed reply to Question 28 (ref 53172/13) on 11 December last.
Ireland, both nationally and through the EU, will continue to draw attention to the unacceptable situation in Gaza, to call for an end to the blockade of Gaza, and to call upon all parties in the region to give greater consideration to the impact of their policies on the people of Gaza. This applies especially to Israel, but also to all other actors, including Hamas and other groups in Gaza, and to Egypt.
On 25 December Israeli warplanes dropped four bombs on Gaza, on sites claimed to be military targets, following the killing on 24 December by a sniper in Gaza of a civilian worker in Israel who was repairing the border fence. Three people in Gaza were reportedly killed, including a child.
Although on this occasion relatively brief, such mini cycles of violence are recurring, tragic, and futile. I have consistently condemned both Israeli strikes on Gaza which incur civilian casualties, but also repeated attacks into Israel which intentionally seek to kill Israeli civilians and are indifferent to subsequent retaliation by Israel into Gaza. I do not accept the view that one killing justifies another, but nor do I think it is helpful to focus on one side only, and simply ignore the fact that violence is being exchanged in both directions.
I repeat – again – my call on all parties to refrain from such actions.
I have dealt many times in the House with the question of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Such agreements, which are in place with most of the EU’s Mediterranean neighbours, are not a reward for good behaviour, they are the means by which the EU itself has chosen to structure its relations with its neighbours. I do not propose to seek the suspension of the agreement, and I have made it clear that if I were to do so, there would be no prospect whatever of achieving this, and the only effect would be to lessen Ireland’s influence on this issue at EU level. The same applies to Israel’s participation in Horizon 2020, which covers co-operation in research and development, to the mutual benefit of both parties, and is confined to entities operating within the internationally recognised borders of Israel.
