Written Answers. - Israeli Occupied Territories.
Tomás MacGiolla
Ceist:
31
Tomás Mac Giolla
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if his attention has been drawn to the increased international concern regarding human rights abuses and killings of civilians in the Israeli occupied territories, especially in the aftermath of the murder of eight workers on 20 May 1990 at Rishon le Zion; if he intends to take any steps unilaterally or as Chairman of the EC Council of Ministers to exert pressure on the Israeli authorities to end its severe security policies; if Ireland supports the sending of UN Security Council observers to the occupied territories; if the Government will consider sending an All-Party Delegation to the area to examine the situation and to report back on the steps which Ireland could take to help the human rights situation and assist in bringing peace to the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am following closely the tense situation which has arisen in Israel and the occupied territories in the wake of the events at Rishon le Zion on 20 May and their aftermath. The Minister for Foreign Affairs spoke about it to the Political Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on 22 May. My colleague, the Minister of State, Mr. Seán Calleary, TD, spoke on the subject when it was raised on the Adjournment in Dáil Éireann on 23 May and again in a full Seanad debate on 7 June.
At the initiative of the Presidency, the Twelve issued statements on 22 May and 2 June, both of which were formally presented to the Israeli authorities and to the PLO by the Troika of Heads of Mission in Tel Aviv and in Tunis. These statements have been placed in the Dáil Library. The Deputy will see that the first statement referred explicitly to the issue of Israel's use of excessive force to put down manifestations of the Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories. This is an issue which has repeatedly been raised by the Twelve with the Israeli authorities. The statement of 22 May earnestly appealed for calm and called on the Israeli authorities to exercise the utmost restraint; this appeal is reiterated in the statement of 2 June.
The Twelve statement of 2 June followed an extraordinary meeting convened by the Presidency in the framework of European Political Co-operation to review the situation in the occupied territories following the deaths of Palestinians since 20 May. In this statement the Twelve expressed their concern at the alarming build up of actions and reactions since the tragic events of 20 May and their aftermath, including the attacks in Amman and Jerusalem and the attempted terrorist attack on the Israeli coast on 30 May. They condemned without reservation all such acts and stated that it is only through negotiation that the cause of peace in this troubled region can be advanced.
The Twelve also noted that these events underline once again that thestatus quo in the occupied territories is not sustainable. They reiterated their determination to encourage all efforts to promote a dialogue leading to a comprehensive settlement, in the framework of an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations with the participation of the PLO.
The Twelve consider that the United Nations can and should play a useful role in the present situation, particularly in relation to the protection of the population. I continue to hope, as do the Twelve, that a mission such as was undertaken by Under Secretary General Goulding early in 1988 on foot of Security Council Resolution 605 will prove possible and that the Council will thereafter take follow-up action. Ireland can, of course, support any action which the Security Council might consider it appropriate to decide on with regard to the occupied territories.
The Community and its member states are resolved to step up their support for the observance of the human rights of the population of the occupied territories and they have already commenced initiatives in this respect. The Deputy will be aware that the European Council at Strasbourg on 9 December placed great emphasis on the human rights situation and on the economic and social situation in the occupied territories. Since January, the Irish Presidency has pressed assiduously to implement the undertakings made at the highest level in Strasbourg on both subjects. The latest developments have given added urgency to this effort.
The Twelve committed themselves at Strasbourg to double the Community's direct aid to the occupied territories by 1992. This is proceeding and, in the meantime, the Twelve decided on 23 May to make a further grant of 500,000 ECUs of humanitarian aid in order to assist the victims of the recent disturbances.
On the question of sending an all-party delegation to the area, the Government have no plans to undertake such an exercise. Ireland is fully associated with Twelve action in regard to the occupied territories; this action is based on the fullest information compiled from the joint resources of all the Twelve.
