Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on his recent visit to the Middle East; the topics raised with the Israeli Foreign Minister during his recent meeting with her; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4444/07]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 5: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government or the European Union propose to take in the short term to advance the achievement of peace in the Middle East in view of his recent visit to the region; the meetings he held with representatives of the Israeli Government, the Palestinian Authority and others; and the issues he raised at such meetings. [4495/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 5 together.

A comprehensive settlement in the Middle East is more urgently needed now than at any time over the past 60 years. During my visit last week, I held discussions with political leaders in Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon. I outlined the role which the Government is playing, directly and in co-operation with our EU partners, to promote a lasting and just peace in the region. I found broad agreement that there can be no unilateral or military solutions and that the opportunity must be taken now to revive a credible political process. At its heart must be a negotiated, viable two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I had a detailed discussion with Foreign Minister Livni on the need to build on the meeting in December between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas and to deliver in full on the commitments made. I urged the Israeli Government to seize the opportunity offered by the US Secretary of State's plans to open trilateral talks in Jerusalem and by the determination of the EU to ensure the international Quartet becomes more actively engaged, on a sustained basis.

I raised the Government's strong concerns regarding the expansion of settlements, the proposed construction of the E1 corridor east of Jerusalem, the construction of the security barrier on Palestinian land, house demolitions in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and the effects of security measures on the Palestinian population. I stressed that Israel had an obligation to act in accordance with international law, and the requirements of the road map and argued strongly that settlement expansion and other measures increasingly threaten to undermine the viability of a two-state solution.

Furthermore, I suggested that if Israel wished to strengthen the position of President Abbas, it was in its own interests to demonstrate readiness to act on his concerns for the welfare of his people. I also asked that the total amount of tax and customs revenues which Israel has withheld from the Palestinian Authority be transferred as soon as possible.

During my visit to Bethlehem, I announced a 27% increase in funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for its services to Palestinian refugees. This will amount to €11.4 million over the next three years. It will involve a further significant increase in the Government's assistance to the Palestinians in 2007, which increased by 40% last year to €6.4 million.

I had very positive discussions in Ramallah with President Mahmoud Abbas and emphasised the Government's strong support for his efforts to negotiate the early formation of a national unity government.

In Cairo I met with the Foreign Minister and other Cabinet Ministers, and with the Secretary General of the Arab League. I travelled to Beirut for a meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. I emphasised the Government's strong support for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, as underlined at the international conference in Paris, at which Ireland pledged a further €2 million in humanitarian assistance. I also visited the members of the Defence Forces serving with great distinction in the strengthened UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Did the Minister obtain a flavour of the extent to which his remarks and suggestions to the various factions were received? Was there acceptance of the position he put forward? Was there recognition of the need on the part of the Israelis and Palestinians and both Palestinian factions to proceed in a constructive way in the future? Was there a recognition that the present impasse cannot continue indefinitely and that the longer it continues the more serious the problem becomes, the more imbedded the issues become and the more dangerous and precarious the situation and peace becomes?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The general feeling in the area is that the situation is extremely difficult but that there is a window of opportunity between now and at least the end of this year. I was in the region when the Quartet was meeting last Friday in Washington. It gave strong support to the efforts to have tripartite talks which President Abbas informed me are due to be held on 20 February when Condoleezza Rice travels back to the region. These tripartite talks will be held between President Abbas, Condoleezza Rice and President Olmert.

I understand from President Abbas he expects that a government of national unity would be put in place within days of my visit and they are meeting as we speak in Mecca and I am delighted with some of the soundings that have come out. They recognise the seriousness of the situation and they recognise that there needs to be a government of national unity. The manner in which the international community responds to this will be very important and this was the subject of the discussion I had with my colleagues not just in Palestine and in Israel but also in Egypt.

There is a general feeling and understanding that this situation in Palestine and Israel must be dealt with as it is the core reason for instability in that region. I pledged Ireland's support both on a bilateral basis and on an international basis through the EU and otherwise. We will support it from a humanitarian point of view and we will support the political process.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Arising from the Minister's reply, does he agree it would be valuable to have a secretariat established to solve the road map? For example, with regard to the peace process in Northern Ireland, the fact there was continuity and a continuing interest from the major participants was invaluable. It is one of the singular features of the road map proposals that it lacks such.

I noted from the press accounts of the Minister's visit that he visited Bethlehem. I am sure he and I agree there has been a destruction of the economy of Bethlehem on foot of the wall which the International Court of Justice has condemned. Does he condemn that wall and its effects on the communities surrounding Bethlehem, Beth Sahour and Beth Jala?

With regard to East Jerusalem, would it have been valuable if the European Union had held off a confrontation with the Hamas Government? Would it not have been valuable if more attention had been paid to the expansion of settlements beyond East Jerusalem? The housing permissions granted illegally totally exceed the number of people who withdrew from Gaza and at the same time in the Occupied Territory there is widespread demolition of Palestinian homes.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Hear, hear.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The suggestion of a secretariat for the road map is an interesting idea. I am not certain if those people who have been involved in the Quartet would be interested in putting that together. Those of us in the EU and in Ireland are underwhelmed by the progress of the Quartet with regard to this. We have exhorted our EU colleagues to be extremely vigilant from now on with regard to a re-invigoration of the Quartet process which includes the tripartite talks which will take place later this month.

I have a sense that both in Israel and in Palestine, through speaking to President Abbas, there is a better understanding. These people are now talking to each other on a constant basis and this is progress.

I roundly condemn the wall and have done so in this House many times. I saw for myself how it is being expanded even since my previous visit. I visited a school in Bethlehem and saw the difficulties that young children encountered in their schooling. I was delighted to be able to say to those involved in the project with us that the Irish Government is prepared to increase funding over the next three years by a substantial amount and by 27% this year.

On the question of East Jerusalem I made the point strongly to the Foreign Minister Ms Livni, about the proposal for the E1 complex in East Jerusalem that if it proceeds it will effectively mean the end of a two-state solution and rule out the possibility of an agreement.

Ms Livni stated candidly that she was disappointed the proposal would not proceed. Despite that, we were shown a photograph of a relatively new police station which had been built in the location in question and it was pointed out by the Palestinian side that police stations are always built first because it entails building all the infrastructure required to facilitate settlement. They are then followed by housing and so forth. We must be vigilant and maintain pressure at Quartet level regarding the expansion of settlements.

During my visit I sensed a feeling that the coming months offer a final chance to try to come to some understanding as to what is meant by a two-state solution. The feeling within the general Arab community was one of abhorrence that Arabs were fighting Arabs. The fear of such conflict is manifested in the fairly good soundings we are hearing from Mecca, although the delegations have been meeting for two days. Speaking privately to President Abbas, he indicated how much progress had been achieved in forming a national unity government. I believe the two sides are not far from reaching this objective. At that point, it will be necessary for the international community to take a reasoned, balanced response to this type of government being established.