Vol. 526 No. 6
51 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the toll of dead and injured to date in the current Middle East crisis; his views on whether these figures indicate an unwillingness or an inability on the part of the Israeli Government to use civilian policing methods rather than lethal military force in dealing with Palestinian protests; and the reason the commission of inquiry agreed at Sharm-el-Sheikh is not yet actively engaged with the problem. [27464/00]
The Government is gravely concerned about the crisis in the Middle East which has claimed more than 260 lives and left more than 10,000 people wounded. The scale of the violence is horrific. The past fortnight witnessed an attack by Israeli naval ships and helicopter gunships on 13 buildings in Gaza city and the sustained bombardment of the villages of Beit Sohour and Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, and horrific bomb attacks on the Israeli town of Hadera and on an Israeli school bus in Gaza.
This appalling violence has put in jeopardy the Middle East peace process in which so many hopes have been placed. The spiral of violence risks triggering further escalation of the crisis. The Government has made clear its position. We deplore all acts of violence and call again on both sides to exercise the utmost restraint and to do all in their power to avoid further escalation. In particular, we have called on Israel to end the use of lethal force in dealing with protests where civilian policing methods would be more appropriate, and to end the economic blockade of Palestinian communities which is causing acute hardship.
We strongly support the Sharm-el-Sheikh agreement and all efforts to restore calm and to find a peaceful solution. The first priority, as agreed at Sharm-el-Sheikh, must be to end the violence. The objective will be to resume the peace negotiations leading to the achievement of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, which must necessarily recognise both the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and Israel's right to live in peace and security.
Our position has been conveyed to both the Israelis and Palestinians. I had discussions last month with the Palestinian Minister for International Co-operation, Dr. Nabil Sha'ath, and subsequently with Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior, a special emissary of Prime Minister Barak. I stressed the need for maximum restraint and encouraged Israelis and Palestinians to work together in rebuilding trust. I also took the opportunity at the Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers' Conference in Marseilles to express the Government's concerns, in conversations with both the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr. Shlomo Ben-Ami, and with Dr. Sha'ath.
Ireland fully supports the European Union's continuing efforts to defuse the crisis and to encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to come together and work for a ceasefire.
Additional Information.The General Affairs Council in Brussels last week called on both sides to fully implement the points agreed at Sharm-el-Sheikh and in subsequent meetings. In particular, the council called on Israel to withdraw its forces from Palestinian territories to the positions they occupied before the crisis and to end the use of lethal force. We also called for an end to the economic sanctions and the restriction of movement in the Palestinian territories. At the same time, we called on the Palestinian Authority to do all in its power to end the violence. We made clear our willingness to assist in efforts to end the current violence and facilitate a return to the peace process.
We support the commission of inquiry agreed at Sharm-el-Sheikh. The commission met over the last two days to adopt its terms of reference and operation. The commission should now begin its work at the earliest possible date. This will be an important measure to help rebuild the confidence and trust which are essential to the success of every peace process.
We are closely following developments in the Security Council in addition to our contact with the parties concerned and would hope that progress will have been made by the time we take our seat on the Security Council in January. As a member of the council, we will be considering the situation both in the light of developments and in line with Government policy.
Does the Minister accept that Palestinians represent 95% of the appalling toll of 260 dead and 10,000 wounded and that this speaks for itself vis-à-vis the use of lethal military force in the face of Palestinian protests? Does he also accept that there is now a need for the European Union to play a more forceful role in trying to assist in the discovery of a solution? Does he agree with the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, that there is scope for the establishment of an international force or monitoring body which could provide independent evidence on who is responsible for particular actions?
I agree that the lethal force displayed by the Israelis since this latest set of problems arose has been totally disproportionate to the level of those problems. We put our view on this matter across in a very strong fashion, even before the most recent common EU position on it had been agreed.
We want the European Union to play a greater and more effective role. However, I accept that it is already playing a strong humanitarian and economic role. The question of how effective it can be in the context of the peace process negotiations is reliant on the agreement of both sides. We have no problem with playing an expanded role and stand ready to do so once agreement has been reached. In the meantime, we also support the United Nations efforts and those of the Secretary General to examine with the parties arrangements for an observer mission in accordance with the Security Council's mandate. We continue to support the endeavours and personal commitment the Secretary General has shown in that regard.
Mr. Solana is a member of the fact finding committee which began its work in recent days. We look for it to come forward, as expeditiously as possible, with an independent and credible assessment of what took place. We are also in agreement with the position of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, in respect of her assessment of the fact that there is a major ongoing problem in the Palestinian Authority area and that there is a need for the Israelis to withdraw, as set out in the Sharm-el-Sheikh agreement, to the positions they previously occupied.
The Minister did not comment on Commissioner Robinson's proposal for international monitors. Does he accept that her request for the establishment of a monitoring body is valid? Does he also accept that there is a danger that a vacuum will be created because the United States, in light of current events, will not have an effective Secretary of State or President for some time and that this is all the more reason to establish a monitoring body and encourage the development of an enhanced EU presence to try to help broker a solution in the Middle East?
A brief reply, Minister.
We support the United Nations Secretary General and the Security Council mandate that arises from recent discussions of this matter at Security Council level. That is the operation. Clearly, the monitoring about which the commissioner, Mary Robinson, spoke is in respect of the prospect of having independent observers placed in the Palestinian Authority area, which we would support. We need to get agreement between the parties on that issue, which has always been the problem. The UN Secretary General is working tirelessly to get agreement from the Israeli side to ensure this international role can be properly observed and validated. We support that position.
