Recognition of Palestine
Darragh O’Brien pressed the Government to recognise the state of Palestine, citing earlier Oireachtas motions and continuing settlement expansion. The Taoiseach repeated that the issue was under review and said recognition would depend on whether it would help resolve the conflict within a two-state solution.
As of this year, 136 countries recognise the state of Palestine, including eight EU states. In December 2014, both the Dáil and Seanad of the previous Oireachtas passed motions to recognise the state of Palestine formally alongside a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as the capital. On page 144 of A Programme for a Partnership Government, it is stated that the Government will honour our commitment to recognise the state of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict. Particularly in light of the fact that, over the past three weeks, over 6,000 illegal settlements have been approved by the Israeli authorities and that, furthermore, the Knesset voted yesterday to retrospectively make these illegal settlements legal in its eyes, when does the Taoiseach and his Government intend to move formally to recognise the state of Palestine?
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As the Deputy mentioned, the programme for Government does say that the Government is committed to recognising the state of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has kept under continuous review whether the immediate recognition by Ireland of the state of Palestine prior to its real achievement on the ground could be a helpful step or not-----
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-----towards the goal of resolving the conflict. The Minister has made it clear that he will recommend early recognition by Ireland if it would be helpful. I do not agree-----
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Is the Government going to stand by and do nothing?
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We passed a joint motion on it.
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I do not agree with the decision of the Israeli Government to validate retrospectively-----
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The Dáil has spoken on this issue.
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The Government needs to follow up.
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The Government is either in or out. Are we committed to it or not?
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Let me remind the Deputy again that the programme for Government says the Government is committed to recognising the state of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement-----
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If the Government will not do it, the Opposition will. We have a cross-party motion here and we will move it if the Government will not do it.
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-----of the conflict. As part of that, would the recognition of Palestine now help towards resolving this conflict-----
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Six thousand illegal settlements. If we do not do it there will be nothing left to recognise.