Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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867. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the diplomatic steps he is taking through the EU or through Ireland’s seat on the UN Security Council to ensure that the 300,000 Palestinian citizens in occupied east Jerusalem are allowed to express their democratic right to vote in the forthcoming Palestinian elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19960/21]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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868. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has or will call in the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland to ensure that they are clear that Ireland wishes to see the 300,000 Palestinian citizens in occupied east Jerusalem being allowed to vindicate their democratic right to vote in the forthcoming Palestinian elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19961/21]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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889. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to help ensure a meaningful election observation to ensure free and fair elections take place in the upcoming Palestinian legislative council election in view of the statement by EU Representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff (details supplied). [20544/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 867, 868 and 889 together.

I welcomed the decree issued on 15 January by President Mahmoud Abbas on the holding of Palestinian elections this year.

The holding of elections in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and in Gaza is a crucial step towards Palestinian unity and reconciliation, giving a voice to Palestinians throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, and renewing the legitimacy of national institutions, including a democratically elected Parliament and Government.

We continue to use our position in the EU and our current seat on the UN Security Council to highlight the importance of Israel's cooperation in order to hold Palestinian elections in East Jerusalem. Ireland's Ambassador to the UN did so most recently at the UN Security Council on 25 March.

Election monitoring is an important part of democratic process and Ireland strongly supports EU efforts to engage in EU monitoring of the Palestinian elections. I urge Israel to facilitate these important elections, including in East Jerusalem.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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869. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the diplomatic steps he is taking through the EU or through Ireland’s seat on the UN Security Council to halt the forcible evictions and home demolitions targeting hundreds of Palestinian families in occupied east Jerusalem particularly in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood; if he has or plans to call in the Israeli Ambassador regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19962/21]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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894. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the imminent eviction of eight Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of Israeli-occupied Palestinian East Jerusalem and due to be replaced with illegal Israeli settlers; the actions that Ireland will be taking to ensure Israel does not carry out this war crime given that these evictions are in contravention of international law and would constitute a war crime of forcible transfer of parts of the population of an occupied territory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20742/21]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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897. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to reports of the imminent eviction of up to 16 Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20817/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 869, 894 and 897 together.

Ireland and the EU have consistently called on the Israeli Government to uphold its international legal obligations, including under the Fourth Geneva Convention, on the treatment of civilian populations. Jerusalem is one of the permanent status issues to be settled in a final peace agreement.

I have consistently highlighted the issues surrounding illegal settlements, including evictions and seizures of property, which are a major driver of the continuing conflict and an obstacle to peace. In my statement to the UN Security Council on 26 January, I urged Israel to halt continued settlement expansion, demolition activity and evictions, including in East Jerusalem.

I met the Israeli Ambassador on 18 March and conveyed in the strongest terms my concerns on these issues and urged the Israeli authorities to cease this activity.

Ireland provides humanitarian assistance, legal and other supports to specific development projects to improve the situation of Palestinians. Ireland funds a number of civil society partners that are active on human rights issues which impact specifically on Palestinians in East Jerusalem, including in relation to the evictions which the Deputy has raised.

I am aware of the situation in the Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, and the longstanding threat of eviction faced by Palestinian residents in these areas. Ireland’s Representative Office in Ramallah has visited the site along with other diplomatic representatives in recent months and continues to monitor the situation closely, in cooperation with partners on the ground.