Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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155. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if on a visit to the West Bank, he asked to see a village that had been destroyed and ethnically cleansed by settlers; if so, if the IDF refused to allow it; if this is correct, the reason he did not make a public statement in relation to the matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7199/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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During my last visit to the West Bank, my planned programme included a visit to the community of Ein Samiya, a part of Area C where settlers has recently demolished a school. Israel, which has full civil and security control in Area C, did not facilitate my proposed visit.

I have previously made statements on this matter in answers to Parliamentary questions. The denial of permission was also the subject of media reporting.

Notwithstanding the lack of access to Area C, when I visited Ramallah in September, I met with members of a Bedouin Palestinian community living in Area C at risk of displacement.

Throughout my visit, and since, I have clearly and consistently underlined my grave concerns at the accelerating rate of settler violence in the occupied Palestinian territory, which, alongside demolitions, is leading to the displacement of Palestinian communities from their homes.

In December last year, a UN report detailed the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This report indicated that January to October 2023 saw the highest levels of violence from Israeli Security Forces and Israeli settlers against Palestinians since records began in 2005. The situation has deteriorated since October 2023.

Ireland has consistently called for EU sanctions against violent Israeli settlers who are displacing Palestinian communities. The US and UK have already implemented sanctions against a limited number of individuals. Listings of individuals and entities are under active discussion at EU level and Ireland wants to see these sanctions adopted rapidly.