Middle East Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Ceisteanna (530)

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

530. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the legal attacks that an organisation (details supplied) is facing and that it is facing a demand to disclose the identity of its testifiers who spoke out after Operation Protective Edge, which is an attempt to eliminate its testimony project; if he is further aware that this is part of wider organised and political attacks that the organisation has faced in recent years, which has been supported by a variety of politicians including the Israeli Prime Minister; and if he will raise any concerns about these developments with his Israeli counterpart. [12972/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The general issue of growing pressure on NGOs in Israel has been discussed in the House on a number of occasions recently, including in last week’s oral Questions. I have stated that this pressure is a matter of growing concern, both to me and in the wider international community, while recognizing nonetheless that Israel still enjoys a much stronger civil society sector than is the case in other countries in the region.

The case of the organization raised by the Deputy is a particularly troubling one as Breaking the Silence is well known to my Department. We are monitoring the case and we will continue to do so and to make clear to the Israeli authorities my views on this regrettable campaign.