Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
67. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions he is taking on an international and European level to prevent and deter escalation of Israeli violence in the occupied West Bank. [35631/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am deeply concerned by the large-scale military operations conducted by Israel in the West Bank involving the use of air strikes and resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. I fully support the call of the UN Secretary General for an immediate cessation of these operations.
Regarding the wider situation in the West Bank, Ireland welcomed the Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on 19 July, which largely confirms the Government’s legal analysis - outlined in Ireland’s written and oral submissions, and presented by the Attorney General to the Court back in February 2024 - that Israel’s settlement and related policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amount to illegal annexation.
I will continue to engage with partners – in the EU, across the region, and more widely within the United Nations – to see how we can now bring to bear this authoritative opinion by the Court to end Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT, and bring about the full realisation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
I welcome that the European Union has adopted successive rounds of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in April and in July of this year. We have seen further instances of settler violence in recent weeks and it is important that further listings are considered.
I will also continue my intensive engagement with EU partners to take concrete steps which demonstrate the Union’s commitment to the restoration of a political horizon in the region towards full realisation of the two-State solution.
