Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018
146. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his officials have spoken with the Israeli ambassador since Israel announced it does not agree with a UN inquiry into the killings following the disproportionate defence of the Israel-Gaza border on 14 May 2018; his views on whether the UN inquiry should go ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23317/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Friday 18 May the UN Human Rights Council held a Special Session to consider the recent events in Gaza. The HRC adopted a resolution – which was co-sponsored by Ireland – which includes provision to establish a Commission of Inquiry into these events. The current President of the HRC will now take this forward.
Israeli Ministers have responded with public statements indicating that they refuse to recognise the inquiry, and will not co-operate with it. This is the same position taken by Israel in recent years in relation to previous UN inquiries, when non-cooperation was undertaken to the extent of refusing to allow the inquiry to enter the country and take evidence.
The Israeli response is not unexpected, but is nonetheless deeply regrettable. I and other EU Ministers have acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself, while at the same time making strong criticisms of what we saw as its excessive and unjustified use of force in this instance. Israel has claimed to have been engaged in legitimate self-defence, but its refusal to cooperate with scrutiny of that claim, and to explain and justify its actions, sends an unfortunate signal. The need for an international inquiry arose, in part, due to the fact that Israel did not conduct a comprehensive review of the use of deadly force on previous occasions.
I urge Israel to reconsider and to co-operate fully with the inquiry.
As I have stated in the Dáil, I called in the Ambassador of Israel on 15 May to convey to his Government my strong criticisms of their actions in this case and my full support for an independent international inquiry. I have not sought a further discussion with the Ambassador in relation to this inquiry as I had made my views on the need for it unambiguously clear to him. My officials are routinely in contact with the Embassy and will make clear our views of Israel’s negative response to the inquiry.
