Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2018
27. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to make a case within the EU against entering new contracts with Israel until the Palestinian occupation is ended; and his further plans to push for support for BDS until Israel withdraws from Palestine in accordance with EU resolutions. [11689/18]
View answerThe EU’s position on Israel’s occupation of Palestine is clear and known to the Israeli government. In December EU Foreign Ministers had the opportunity to reiterate this during an informal breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel before the Foreign Affairs Council.The EU side used the meeting to underline to PM Netanyahu our key concerns about the Middle East Peace Process and the occupation, including actions by his government that we consider to be unhelpful or indeed unacceptable. We also reiterated that our position on Jerusalem has not changed – that it must be the capital of two states, following an agreement between the parties on all of the final status issues. In this context, I raised the need for a freeze on settlement construction, and pressed Israel on the issue of a two-state solution.
I also raised a number of specific concerns about the occupation with the Israeli authorities during my visit to the region in January of this year.
I believe that these opportunities for dialogue are extremely useful, including as an opportunity to raise issues of concern.
The Government does not support a policy of “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions”, or BDS, in relation to Israel. I firmly believe that such an approach is counter-productive, and that it will not help to increase ordinary Israelis' understanding of the sound basis for international concern about the impact of the occupation. Such an all-encompassing policy also conflates the State of Israel, on the one hand, and illegal settlements on Palestinian land, on the other. I believe it is important to be clear on the distinction between the two, and I know that many Israeli citizens are also opposed to the construction of settlements.
In relation to the decision taken by Israel to exclude members of certain groups supporting BDS, I believe that this action also does not help to build a better mutual understanding or to move the situation forward. Israel is of course entitled to decide who it allows into its territory, as is any other state. However, I believe that excluding people simply for critical opinions they hold is not the usual practice of a democracy. Moreover, such exclusions also have the effect of denying people access to the occupied Palestinian territory which Israel controls. During my visit to the Middle East in January, I raised this issue directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
While the Government does not support a policy of “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions”, it is a legitimate and non-violent political viewpoint, albeit one regarded in Israel as hostile, and one that I fundamentally disagree with.
