Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The suggestion of a secretariat for the road map is an interesting idea. I am not certain if those people who have been involved in the Quartet would be interested in putting that together. Those of us in the EU and in Ireland are underwhelmed by the progress of the Quartet with regard to this. We have exhorted our EU colleagues to be extremely vigilant from now on with regard to a re-invigoration of the Quartet process which includes the tripartite talks which will take place later this month.

I have a sense that both in Israel and in Palestine, through speaking to President Abbas, there is a better understanding. These people are now talking to each other on a constant basis and this is progress.

I roundly condemn the wall and have done so in this House many times. I saw for myself how it is being expanded even since my previous visit. I visited a school in Bethlehem and saw the difficulties that young children encountered in their schooling. I was delighted to be able to say to those involved in the project with us that the Irish Government is prepared to increase funding over the next three years by a substantial amount and by 27% this year.

On the question of East Jerusalem I made the point strongly to the Foreign Minister Ms Livni, about the proposal for the E1 complex in East Jerusalem that if it proceeds it will effectively mean the end of a two-state solution and rule out the possibility of an agreement.

Ms Livni stated candidly that she was disappointed the proposal would not proceed. Despite that, we were shown a photograph of a relatively new police station which had been built in the location in question and it was pointed out by the Palestinian side that police stations are always built first because it entails building all the infrastructure required to facilitate settlement. They are then followed by housing and so forth. We must be vigilant and maintain pressure at Quartet level regarding the expansion of settlements.

During my visit I sensed a feeling that the coming months offer a final chance to try to come to some understanding as to what is meant by a two-state solution. The feeling within the general Arab community was one of abhorrence that Arabs were fighting Arabs. The fear of such conflict is manifested in the fairly good soundings we are hearing from Mecca, although the delegations have been meeting for two days. Speaking privately to President Abbas, he indicated how much progress had been achieved in forming a national unity government. I believe the two sides are not far from reaching this objective. At that point, it will be necessary for the international community to take a reasoned, balanced response to this type of government being established.

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