Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raised a whole load of issues with Prime Minister Netanyahu, including the responsibilities of Israel in the context of occupation. We spent a lot of time talking about what needs to happen in terms of assisting Palestinians in Gaza in particular, where there are significant socioeconomic and environmental pressures linked to the availability of water and power, overcrowding, housing, education, health care and many other issues. Some 1.3 million of the 1.9 million people living in a very small area now rely directly on food aid coming through UN organisations. Those kinds of pressures may potentially lead to a new round of violence and misery because of the increasing pressure on Palestinians living under those conditions. There is an understanding around that.

On numerous occasions, I have raised my view in regard to expanding settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the context of trying to work towards an agreed settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. I have raised these issues and we have had pretty robust conversations. Prime Minister Netanyahu is a blunt talker and does not agree with me on everything. That is no surprise to people. It is really important that we have such conversations in order that we can build up an understanding of the concerns-----

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