Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
70. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how he will implement the Programme for Government commitment to respond to the annexation of occupied Palestine by Israel. [4381/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe annexation by Israel of any part of the occupied Palestinian territory would be a clear violation of international law. It would have no legitimacy, and would not be recognised or accepted by Ireland, or by the international community more generally, and would be deeply damaging to the two-State solution. I am concerned by the statements of some Israeli officials regarding formal annexation of areas within the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Programme for Government clearly states that the Government would regard any such moves as “a breach of international law and would consider an appropriate response to them at both national and international level”.
Ireland has been consistently vocal in its opposition to settlement expansion and annexation. In June 2021, the Government supported a Dáil motion that reflected our grave concern about the scale and character of settlements and their negative impact. We will continue to proactively raise these issues at EU level, in national and EU statements, at the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly, and in our bilateral contacts.
The situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a priority matter of our foreign policy. In my recent interactions with Prime Minister Shtayyeh and Foreign Minister Malki, I expressed my concern at the situation on the ground and the recent statements by some members of the Israeli government.
In Ireland’s statement on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question in the UN Security Council on 19 December, Ireland reiterated the message that Israel must halt settlement activity, which is in flagrant violation of international law and which is an impediment to achieving a just and lasting peace based on a two-State solution, based on the agreed international parameters and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
