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

I tried in my earlier response to Deputy McDonald to explain what we are trying to do. For the first time, there is clear agreement across 27 member states in the European Union that the only solution to this conflict is a two-state solution. Ireland has a role to play in making sure the EU presses for this, advocates for it and makes this the end to the conflict in the area. We can do that. For far too long, we have provided aid to the Palestinians without requiring that they embrace democracy and human rights and end terrorism. For far too long, we have traded with Israel without expecting it to respect human rights and to provide Palestinians with the state they deserve. There is an opportunity for us to play a role in making sure the European Union has a more active policy in this area. We must be credible in that regard.

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