Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is fair to say the latest round of fighting and violence has been the most intense we have seen since 2014. The ceasefire to which the Tánaiste refers which was brokered by Egypt and Qatar is pretty uneasy. It comes against a backdrop of the Israeli Minister for Defence, Mr. Avigdor Lieberman, resigning from the Israeli Government and accusing the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, of capitulating to terror. It demonstrates how precarious is the position. In the past year alone we have seen protests along the Gaza border, the passing of the nation state law, the ongoing expansion of the illegal settlements, the United States moving its embassy to Tel Aviv, the cessation of funding for UNWRA, the closing of the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington DC and an increase in violence. All the time, this much vaunted peace initiative that we await just has not materialised or does not seem to be any nearer. There is no progress being made. I referred to the visit of Palestinian President Abbas to Ireland. I know that the Tánaiste was cut off because of time, but will he expand a little on the discussions he had with EU and Arab leaders on the holding of the peace meeting in Dublin?

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