Palestinian-Irish Relations

The people of Ireland have a deep and abiding interest in the situation of the Palestinian people and we have had a Representative Office in Ramallah since 2000.

Our official policy is to work for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

We do this in a number of ways.

At a national level, we have provided almost €90 million in the past ten years to support the state-building efforts of Palestine and to address the development and humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. We want to see Palestinians realise their full potential so we have a particular focus on the education sector. In addition, we provide funding to our key partners UNRWA and OCHA who provide invaluable humanitarian and developmental assistance to Palestinians, often in very difficult times. We also fund local NGOs that promote human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Working closely with our European partners, Ireland plays an active role in shaping EU policies that offer political, economic and humanitarian support to Palestine.

On the international stage, Ireland is a strong advocate for a solution to the Middle East Peace Process that results in a sovereign, viable, Palestinian state.

Here in Ramallah, we work closely with the Palestinian Authority. We have an active engagement with civil society and we also cooperate on the ground with other diplomatic and consular missions and with international organisations.