Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 109, 111, 124, 155, 224 and 225 together.

I share the concern that events on the ground in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories threaten to undermine the important political progress which has been made in recent months. I have strongly condemned the killings of Palestinian civilians in recent weeks and the continued firing of rockets from Gaza on towns in southern Israel. I also condemn the appalling suicide bomb attack in the Israeli town of Dimona on Monday, in which an Israeli woman lost her life. I know that the House joins me in extending our deepest sympathies to the families of all the victims. I have stated many times that there are no military or violent solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The only way forward is through political negotiation, no matter how difficult such a course may be in the current circumstances.

Ireland has been a long-standing and active proponent of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Government has worked closely with other EU partners to ensure that the European Union plays a leading role in promoting a comprehensive settlement in the region. It must be based on a lasting and just two-state solution, which must involve the creation of a viable, independent and democratic Palestinian state based on the political unity of the West Bank and Gaza.

We warmly welcomed the agreement reached in Annapolis last November and the subsequent opening of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with the target of agreement on final status issues by the end of 2008. The Government has paid tribute to the courage of Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas in giving momentum to this negotiating process. We have also strongly welcomed the renewed engagement of the US Administration. At our meeting in Brussels last week, EU Foreign Ministers again underlined the importance of close involvement by the neighbouring Arab states, building on the historic Arab peace initiative.

In public statements and in my discussions over recent weeks, I have set out the Government's very real concern about the widening gap between the expectations of the negotiating process and the reality of people's daily lives. This reality includes lethal violence in and from the occupied territories, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the continued construction of the security barrier on occupied land. We have also consistently warned against the implementation of policies aimed at isolating the people of Gaza. Urgent action is required to support the political process and to create an atmosphere in which political leaders can credibly consider the difficult compromises required for peace. There must be an end to all violence, including suicide bombings, rocket attacks and military actions in Gaza and the West Bank and a genuine freeze on settlement construction. The EU has stated unambiguously that all settlement construction on the West Bank and around Jerusalem is illegal and an obstacle to peace. We have also called for the immediate lifting of restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, which are stifling economic activity.

The Government and our EU partners have been monitoring the situation in Gaza particularly closely. We remain gravely concerned at the humanitarian situation facing its 1.5 million inhabitants. The Israeli moves to cut off fuel supplies were widely condemned internationally and have, thankfully, been suspended but more is required. The EU has pressed for months for the reopening of Gaza's crossing points for people and for goods. The Council last week emphasised the EU's support for a proposal from the Palestinian Authority that it assume control of the crossing points. The clear lesson of the events at Rafah is that the isolation of Gaza's people is unjust, unsustainable and contrary to the interests of Israelis and Palestinians working for a peaceful settlement.

We strongly support the efforts being co-ordinated by Egypt, with Arab League support, for a solution based on the regulated reopening of the crossing points. The EU has made it clear that it is ready to play a role in helping implement such a solution. The EU border assistance mission which was established at the end of 2005 was suspended following the violence between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza last June. The EU is ready to consider resuming the mission in the framework of an agreement involving the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Israel.

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