Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 June 2024
16. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs what his Department plans to do for the people of Palestine beyond merely recognising their right to exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27592/24]
View answer29. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to the formal recognition of the state of Palestine, his proposals to support the Palestinian state and to hold Israel to account for the crimes currently being committed against the Palestinian people. [27490/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 29 together.
Ireland’s recognition of the State of Palestine on 28 May was a very significant moment in the long-standing bilateral relationship between Ireland and Palestine.
Ireland’s support for the Palestinian people is underpinned by several pillars of our international engagement. This includes our active advocacy and diplomacy in seeking a sustainable peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people on the basis of the two-State solution; our continuing political and financial support for Palestinian state building, including through our own bilateral assistance programme; our support for civil society organisations working in the area of human rights and accountability in both Israel and Palestine; our bilateral engagement with partners in the region; our support for the work of the United Nations; and our unwavering commitment to international law and the integrity and independence of the international legal institutions.
In the period since Ireland announced its recognition of the State of Palestine, I have maintained intensive engagement with EU and regional partners with a view to advancing these priorities. I welcome in particular that a meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia and Norway in Brussels in late May has deepened the understanding between European, Arab and other international partners on the importance of Palestinian statehood within the context of implementing the two-State solution. It is also significant that the EU is now reinforcing its cooperation with Arab partners on the basis of the vision for peace they presented to EU Ministers in late May.
I pressed for urgent follow-up and momentum in all of these areas at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council earlier this week. In particular, I pressed the European Commission to operationalise the EU’s commitment to support the Palestinian Authority through advancing, without delay, a significant package of financial assistance. I also urged the EU to apply appropriate leverage upon all parties, notably Israel, to abide by their commitments under international law. This includes the need to review Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Ireland has also been working to intensify our assistance to the Palestinian Authority in building a system of effective governance following our recognition of the Palestinian State. This builds on our long-standing programme of development assistance in Palestine, which aims to support the capacity-building of Palestinian institutions. Ireland’s development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people is an integral part of Ireland’s contribution to the achievement of a just, enduring and stable peace in the Middle East.
This year, Ireland will provide at least €34 million in development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. These are exceptional amounts in response to the war in Gaza. Previously Ireland provided around €16 million per year in support to Palestine.
This assistance includes €20 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in February 2024. In the context of the ongoing war in Gaza, UNRWA’s role is vital. It is the backbone of humanitarian action in Gaza, both itself as a direct implementer, and through its logistical and operational support to all other humanitarian actors; no other UN agency operating in Gaza could manage without the capacity and support provided by UNRWA, nor can any other Agencies substitute UNRWA’s functions.
