Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Or the old Minister.

I agree with my colleagues, including Senator Ó Murchú, who have eloquently articulated the situation concerning the Palestinians and what is happening in Israel and Palestine at the moment. It is a real travesty that Israel set about ensuring that the peace talks under the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, would not make progress. It was a brave move on Mr. Kerry's part as peace talks had failed so many times. In the lead up to those talks, I happened to be in Israel and Palestine with a group from the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. It was evident to us from our discussions, both in the Knesset and also among the Palestinians, that while the Palestinians were hopeful, there was no doubt that the Israelis did not want it to succeed.

The continuation of the settlements, the imprisonment of Palestinians and their treatment in prison, and particularly the treatment of youngsters in Palestine, have no doubt led to the radicalisation of a number of those people. It is very difficult. If any of us were young Palestinians and we saw the manner in which President Abbas, who has made strenuous efforts to get an agreement, has been treated and the dismissive approach of the Israelis, I think one would be steering towards Hamas as the only ultimate solution for a resolution of the difficulties in Israel.