Speech by Taoiseach, Micheál Martin The Road Ahead: One Year After the New York Declaration and the Comprehensive 20-Point Peace Plan Tuesday 22 September

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I express my sincere thanks to the co-Chairs - France, the United Kingdom and Canada - for convening us at a critical moment for both Palestine and Israel, and the wider region.

As we mark one year since the decisive adoption of the New York Declaration, we are witnessing sustained momentum towards supports for Palestinian statehood and self-determination.

This includes the wave of countries recognising the State of Palestine following the

French/Saudi High-Level Conference.

Yet, the very existence of a Palestinian state remains under threat and the ongoing suffering of its people is unacceptable.

Progress and implementation have completely stalled against a backdrop of widening regional conflict.

In Gaza, crisis levels of hunger and immense hardship persist, with the entire population confined to an insecure and overcrowded third of the Strip. Recovery and reconstruction have been negligible. People are losing hope.

The parties must fulfil their commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Plan.

Israeli actions that threaten the viability of the two-State solution have accelerated. On 19 August, Israel published a tender for over 1,200 housing units for the E1 settlement project.

Just last week a second tender was published, tripling the number of housing units planned for the area.

The international community must not be selective; we have a duty to respond to all breaches of international law and resolutions of the Security Council.

Sustained international diplomatic pressure at all levels is urgently required. Rhetoric alone is not sufficient.

Excellencies,

On 15 September, Ireland commenced legislation to prohibit the importation of goods from Israeli settlements.

With Spain, Ireland is proud to have led the way on this issue.

I welcome the announcements by the UK, France, Canada and others signalling a clear intention to take similar decisive actions. Ireland is also, with other Member States, pushing for the EU to take action as a bloc.

The Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice is clear, Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful.

Excellencies,

All of us gathered in this room believe that the two-State solution is the only viable path to achieve lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

We must take action to end the illegal occupation of Palestine and to restore a political horizon.