I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 34 and 53 together.
I made it clear in the Seanad on 16 December last the Government's deep concern at events in the occupied territories. I underlined the importance Ireland attaches to matters affecting the rights of the population of the occupied territories and I set out the essential principles underlying our approach. Our concern has been conveyed to the Israeli authorities in the course of recent bilateral contacts.
Since the beginning of the present disturbances the Twelve have co-operated closely in the framework of European Political Co-operation in order to convey to the Israeli authorities our shared concern for the population of the occupied territories. On two occasions since the outbreak of the present violence, on 18 December and again on 12 January, the Presidency's ambassador in Tel Aviv has expressed to the Israeli authorities the views of the Twelve at the rapidly and seriously deteriorating situation and urgently called on the Israeli authorities to ensure the immediate protection of the inhabitants of the area. The Presidency also conveyed the Twelve's concern at Israel's decision to pursue a policy of deportation in the occupied territories.
At a meeting in Bonn on 8th February the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve had a thorough discussion of the situation. The declaration which they adopted, a copy of which is available in the Library, expresses their profound concern at conditions in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Ministers agreed that the status quo in the occupied territories was not sustainable. They reiterated their conviction that the only solution is by means of a comprehensive, just and lasting political settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the 1980 Venice Declaration and subsequent Twelve declarations. The Ministerial Declaration reaffirms Twelve support for the convening of an international conference as the most suitable framework for negotiations between the parties directly concerned. It is for the parties directly concerned to agree on the precise modalities for the convening of this conference.
I have informed representatives of some of the parties involved, including the PLO, of Ireland's support for a conference under UN auspices with the participation of the parties concerned and of any party able to make a direct and positive contribution to the restoration and maintenance of peace and to the region's economic and social development. I have also emphasised our commitment to play an active part in seeking to bring the positions of the parties directly concerned closer together with a view to the conference being convened at an early date. Together with our partners in the Twelve we reaffirmed this commitment on 8th February in the declaration which the Twelve Foreign Ministers adopted at their meeting in Bonn.
