Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
88. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to his recent discussions with the prime minister of Spain, to outline the territorial borders of any Palestinian state which the Government would be willing to recognise, and who the Government would recognise as the legitimate government and diplomatic representatives of any such state. [21297/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have previously stated, it is my intention to bring a formal proposal on recognition to Government following the completion of discussions with international partners. This is an issue that has been the subject of ongoing consideration in line with the Programme for Government.
These discussions are ongoing and intensifying. I visited Jordan and Egypt in April and met with my counterparts. The manner in which Ireland and like-minded partners could support regional efforts to return to a political pathway towards a sustainable and peaceful resolution of this conflict and a two-state solution was a central focus of these meetings.
At a recent meeting convened in Riyadh by Saudi Arabia and Norway, which was attended by Ireland as well as several European and regional partners, the importance of taking concrete steps towards the realisation of a Palestinian State in the context of the two-State solution was emphasised.
This is a perspective that I have also shared in detail will all EU partners, including most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council in April. I also remain in frequent contact with key like-minded partners and most recently spoke with my Spanish counterpart on 1 May.
It is clear from these engagements, that both our European and regional partners support the need for early, credible and irreversible steps to implement a two-State solution. In this regard, it remains my firm view – and the view of our partners – that recognition is a step that should be carefully calibrated to best advance the peace process. I will be remaining in frequent contact with key partners on this issue in the coming period.
By formally recognising a Palestinian state, Ireland would refer to occupied Palestinian territory based on 1967 borders, which includes Gaza and the West Bank, as the State of Palestine, while being mindful that a future settlement between Palestine and Israel may involve mutually agreed adjustments to the 1967 lines.
Ireland recognises states, not governments. Recognition of a state does not, therefore, necessarily reflect Ireland’s view of the governing body of that State at a given moment. In this case, the Palestinian Authority is a governing body and as the governing body, Ireland would engage with the Palestinian Authority in our diplomatic relations going forward, as we do extensively already.
