Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their questions. On Deputy McDonald's question about Israel and Palestine, I agree that we must speak honestly with our friends. I hope, when the Deputy is in the US in March, she will speak honestly with her American friends about the stance she takes on issues relating to Palestine, Cuba and Venezuela. I have yet to see evidence of that but I will check her remarks in March to see if she does so.

I agree that we must support a two-state solution and we continue to do so. We support the right of Palestinians to their independence. We oppose the settlements and the expansion of the existing settlements, and anti-democratic forces, whether they are in Israel or Palestine. We are very concerned about what is happening in Israel in regard to judicial independence and the actions of the new government.

I am also concerned that we have not had elections in the Palestinian areas now for a very long time.

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