Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Ireland has supported the achievement of an independent Palestinian state for 30 years. I have made clear my strong view that I would wish to see this achieved very soon, and that the indefinite continuation of the occupation is quite unacceptable. It is incumbent on all parties, including Israel, to seek actively to bring the occupation to an end through the negotiation of a two-state agreement based on the borders of 1967. The United States has consistently expressed support for a Palestinian state. Israeli Governments also claim to support the concept although Israel's aggressive policy of territorial annexation and settlement of occupied Palestinian territory would appear to undermine the prospect of such an outcome.

Both the US and Israel have made clear their strong opposition to the current Palestinian effort to achieve immediate recognition at the United Nations for the state of Palestine. They argue that this can only come about as a result of a negotiated settlement, and that what they regard as unilateral action at the UN is a threat to this. I do not consider there is any prospect for now of convincing them otherwise. Indeed, they are exerting strong pressure on others to come around to their point of view.

Given Ireland's close friendship with the United States, I regret our difference of opinion on this point. The fact is, however, that our contrasting positions reflect deeply held views among our respective peoples.

The Government does not accept that the Palestinian initiative is a legitimate threat to negotiations. We consider it a parallel process born out of deep Palestinian frustration with the lack of progress in almost 20 years of on-off negotiations since they accepted the existence of Israel. I have made clear therefore that, subject to our scrutiny of the exact terms, Ireland would support a resolution at the UN General Assembly to admit Palestine as either a full member or a non-member observer state.

Ireland voted in favour of the admission of Palestine to UNESCO on 31 October.

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