Vol. 476 No. 5
34 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received a report from representatives of Amnesty International to the Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding the Palestinian Authority and Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7557/97]
I am aware of the report on human rights in Israel, the occupied territories under Israeli control and the Palestinian autonomous areas, to which the Deputy refers. I am also aware of the resolution which was passed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs on 26 February, calling for the establishment, in conjunction with the Euro-Mediterranean Agreements, of an EU monitoring committee on human rights.
The European Union remains gravely concerned at violations of human rights in the region. The Union insists on the fundamental nature of human rights obligations in all of its new generation association agreements, such as the EU-Israel Agreement and the Interim Association Agreement between the Union and the PLO. In addition both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have made a solemn political commitment to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, the Barcelona Process, and the promotion of human rights and the development of democratic institutions are essential elements of this process.
With regard to Israel and the occupied territories under its control, the EU has regularly underlined to Israel the importance of compliance with human rights. During our Presidency of the EU, in Ireland's statement to the Third Committee of the General Assembly on behalf of the European Union, we stressed the need for Israel to promote compliance, in the areas under their control, with the basic norms of democracy, including respect of human rights and the rule of law. In this regard, we called on Israel to respect the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians. In addition, the Government has expressed its concern at the decision taken by the Israeli Supreme Court in recent months that Israeli secret service investigators can use physical pressure in the questioning of Palestinian detainees.
With regard to the Palestinian Authority, the Interim Association Agreement between the EU and the PLO which was signed on 24 February allows for the establishment of a political dialogue between the EU and the PLO. This dialogue covers all issues of common interest, in particular the conditions required to ensure, inter alia, democracy and respect for human rights. In the Third Committee at the General Assembly, the Irish Presidency stressed the Union's view that respect for human rights and the promotion of democratic institutions are essential in order to maintain the peace process and to strengthen the foundations of Palestinain self-rule. In addition, in its contacts with the Palestinian Authority, the Union has expressed its concern at the treatment of detainees in Palestinian custody and underlined the importance of full respect for the rule of law and human rights.
It is the Government's intention, and that of the EU as a whole, to continue to monitor the human rights situation in Israel and the occupied territories under Israeli control as well as in the areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority, in order to help ensure that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority comply with their commitments under their agreements with the Union.
