Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Until there is a political settlement, the refugee problem will persist. I have had discussions with negotiators on both sides. There is acknowledgement that the refugee question is fundamental to any ultimate political resolution and the two state solution. As long as we do not have political resolution, we will need to provide comprehensive support via UNWRA to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. It is correct to say that the settlement policy is compounding the peace process and is undermining moderate opinion within the Palestinian movement, which is seeking to devise a way forward in terms of creating systems of governance and rule of law. There have been some successes in the West Bank, Jenin and elsewhere in terms of the performance of the Palestinian Authority. Prime Minister Fayyad, in particular, has had a significant impact and this has been widely acknowledged.

The perspective of the Union for the Mediterranean is to try to develop stronger and more regular dialogue between the protagonists and between Arab countries and Israel so that eventually a better atmosphere, conducive to resolution, will be created. We have met the principals of both sides.

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