On 29 December, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution (77/247), which included a request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on issues arising from Israel’s continuing occupation of Palestinian territory. Ireland voted in favour of this Resolution. Ireland is a strong supporter of the ICJ, and welcomes the increased recourse of States to the ICJ’s advisory role in clarifying international law.
I am very concerned by Israel’s announcement, on Thursday 5 January, of retaliatory measures against the Palestinian Authority in response to this Resolution. On 16 January, Ireland joined a statement supported by over 90 UN Member States, expressing deep concern at the Israeli measures, rejecting punitive measures in response to a request for an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, and more broadly in response to a General Assembly resolution, and calling for their immediate reversal.
Ireland maintains a consistent and principled position on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and works closely with like-minded partners at both EU and UN level. I welcome that the Foreign Affairs Council in January afforded an opportunity to raise this issue, as a matter of priority, with my EU counterparts. The Government remains committed to a two-State solution and will continue to work with partners to revive a political process in line with international law, which ensures equal rights and is acceptable to both parties.
