I have made clear my view that the continuing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territory, and the ongoing settlement construction project, are now the major obstacles to a lasting peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours, including the Palestinians. Settlement construction is not only illegal under international law, but it inherently involves injustice to Palestinians and further erosion of their rights and freedoms. Furthermore, settlement construction undermines the ability of Palestinian leaders to pursue negotiations with Israel, and increasingly makes it difficult for such negotiations to be successful, by making the creation of a viable Palestinian state increasingly hard to achieve on the ground.
It is unambiguous EU policy that the relentless construction of settlements in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) is undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state, and is an obstacle to peace. This is a clear message that Ireland and our EU partners relay to the Israeli authorities at every appropriate opportunity.
Recognising that developments on the ground are threatening to make a two-state solution impossible, the Foreign Affairs Council in May adopted Conclusions that restated, and in many respects advanced, EU positions on issues such as the Palestinian depopulation of Area C and evictions and demolitions in East Jerusalem. Many of these issues are part and parcel of the settlement project. I have suggested that the EU will need to revisit this issue in the near future to review developments and ascertain what, if any, measures the EU could adopt that might encourage Israel to halt the expansion of settlements. The possible exclusion from the EU of settlement products is one option for consideration in that regard.
Ultimately, only the achievement of a comprehensive peace agreement will resolve the issues of the occupation and settlements, and the pursuit and support of the Middle East peace process remains a major priority of the EU and the international community, despite the many frustrations this has entailed.
