Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2021
133. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there has been any response from Israel on the decision to categorise the occupation of Palestinian territories as a de facto annexation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33697/21]
View answerOn 26 May Dáil Éireann adopted a motion which declared that the scale, pace and nature of Israel’s settlement policy in occupied Palestinian territory amounts to unlawful de facto annexation.
Ireland’s long-standing opposition to settlements is well known by the Israeli Government. Ireland has been consistently vocal in its opposition to settlement expansion and annexation. We have consistently raised the issue in national and EU statements at the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council and in bilateral contacts.
With respect to the recent motion, the spokesperson of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the Dáil’s characterisation of Israeli settlement policy as unlawful de facto annexation. This view has also been conveyed by Israeli officials to Ireland’s Ambassador to Israel.
Ireland has been clear that our position is informed by international law, respect for human rights and the negative political impact of settlement activities on the prospects for a future negotiated peace agreement.
