Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I made a point on the Arab league in the context of supporting President Abbas, not on the wider issues. The Deputy is making the point that the settlements on the ground keep creating new facts on the ground that undermine the principle of having two states. That is the problem and where the issue becomes very difficult. On the Palestinian side, people are saying that, in spite of all the talk of having two states, the reality is different on the ground. Matching the rhetoric and articulation of principles with the reality on the ground is the big challenge and difficulty. That is why President Abbas cannot really move too far forward without the settlement issue being at least temporarily put aside.

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