Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Ireland enjoys good diplomatic relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority through our Embassy in Tel Aviv, representative office in Ramallah and their respective missions in Dublin. The representative office in Ramallah is accredited to the Palestinian Authority, including in respect of Gaza. The EU likewise engages directly with the Government of Israel and with the Palestinian Authority, including on issues relating to Gaza.

It is a matter of regret that the Palestinian Authority is currently unable to exercise control of Gaza. Discussions between the Palestinian factions have been under way since January, brokered by the Egyptian Government, with the aim of ending this division and restoring a united Palestinian Government. I would welcome such a development.

Ireland believes that the EU should be ready to engage with Hamas once previously stated requirements are met and the movement indicates readiness to renounce violence and be part of the search for a solution in the area. There have been some indications that its position may be evolving, but the ball is in Hamas's court.

The idea of an EU-Israel summit meeting was one of the possibilities for deeper political exchanges connected with the idea of an overall enhancement in EU-Israel relations, the so-called upgrade. I have spoken on this topic many times in the House and have made clear our opinion that the decision in principle last year to upgrade should be reconsidered in light of subsequent developments, including both the Gaza conflict and the stance of the new Israeli Government.

The Czech Presidency had indicated that it hoped to be able to hold an EU-Israel summit during its term, but it does not now appear that this will take place. More positively, the Obama Administration continues to be actively engaged in the search for peace, with Senator Mitchell paying his third visit to the region last week while President Obama will meet Prime Minister Netanyahu and Presidents Abbas and Mubarak in the coming weeks. Renewed US engagement and co-operation with the EU in the region is critical, a point I heavily emphasised in my intervention at the recent EU-US summit in Prague.

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