Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding talks being held between Egypt and Palestinian representatives on foot of the recent breach of the divide between Gaza and Egypt; the indications he has received regarding the participation in talks of Fatah as well as Hamas; if the EU plans to offer assistance in such talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3697/08]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his policy on the conflict between Israel and Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3795/08]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of the talks involving the EU, US, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas regarding the future operation of the crossing point at Rafah between Gaza and Egypt. [3699/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on assistance the European Union has offered in ongoing talks between the Israeli Prime Minister and Mahmoud Abbas following recent developments in the region, specifically the killing by Israeli forces of more than 20 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the shelling of Israeli towns in the area. [3678/08]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he will take to help the innocent Palestinian civilians, who are going without supplies, due to measures introduced by the Israeli Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3944/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he and his EU or UN colleagues can positively prevail upon the ongoing situation in the Middle East; if efforts have been made to bring about a cessation to the hardship caused to the Palestinians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4176/08]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he and his EU colleagues are sufficiently effective in bringing about an improvement in the situation between the Israelis and the Palestinians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4177/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 109, 111, 124, 155, 224 and 225 together.

I share the concern that events on the ground in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories threaten to undermine the important political progress which has been made in recent months. I have strongly condemned the killings of Palestinian civilians in recent weeks and the continued firing of rockets from Gaza on towns in southern Israel. I also condemn the appalling suicide bomb attack in the Israeli town of Dimona on Monday, in which an Israeli woman lost her life. I know that the House joins me in extending our deepest sympathies to the families of all the victims. I have stated many times that there are no military or violent solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The only way forward is through political negotiation, no matter how difficult such a course may be in the current circumstances.

Ireland has been a long-standing and active proponent of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Government has worked closely with other EU partners to ensure that the European Union plays a leading role in promoting a comprehensive settlement in the region. It must be based on a lasting and just two-state solution, which must involve the creation of a viable, independent and democratic Palestinian state based on the political unity of the West Bank and Gaza.

We warmly welcomed the agreement reached in Annapolis last November and the subsequent opening of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with the target of agreement on final status issues by the end of 2008. The Government has paid tribute to the courage of Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas in giving momentum to this negotiating process. We have also strongly welcomed the renewed engagement of the US Administration. At our meeting in Brussels last week, EU Foreign Ministers again underlined the importance of close involvement by the neighbouring Arab states, building on the historic Arab peace initiative.

In public statements and in my discussions over recent weeks, I have set out the Government's very real concern about the widening gap between the expectations of the negotiating process and the reality of people's daily lives. This reality includes lethal violence in and from the occupied territories, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and the continued construction of the security barrier on occupied land. We have also consistently warned against the implementation of policies aimed at isolating the people of Gaza. Urgent action is required to support the political process and to create an atmosphere in which political leaders can credibly consider the difficult compromises required for peace. There must be an end to all violence, including suicide bombings, rocket attacks and military actions in Gaza and the West Bank and a genuine freeze on settlement construction. The EU has stated unambiguously that all settlement construction on the West Bank and around Jerusalem is illegal and an obstacle to peace. We have also called for the immediate lifting of restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, which are stifling economic activity.

The Government and our EU partners have been monitoring the situation in Gaza particularly closely. We remain gravely concerned at the humanitarian situation facing its 1.5 million inhabitants. The Israeli moves to cut off fuel supplies were widely condemned internationally and have, thankfully, been suspended but more is required. The EU has pressed for months for the reopening of Gaza's crossing points for people and for goods. The Council last week emphasised the EU's support for a proposal from the Palestinian Authority that it assume control of the crossing points. The clear lesson of the events at Rafah is that the isolation of Gaza's people is unjust, unsustainable and contrary to the interests of Israelis and Palestinians working for a peaceful settlement.

We strongly support the efforts being co-ordinated by Egypt, with Arab League support, for a solution based on the regulated reopening of the crossing points. The EU has made it clear that it is ready to play a role in helping implement such a solution. The EU border assistance mission which was established at the end of 2005 was suspended following the violence between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza last June. The EU is ready to consider resuming the mission in the framework of an agreement involving the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Israel.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I welcome the Minister's reply and I agree with much of it. I welcome the return to EU statements of language such as "occupation", "illegal settlements", "expansion" and the reference to international law. My question referred to the breach in the wall at Rafah. Between 700,000 and 800,000 people out of a total of 1.5 million moved in 48 hours, which indicates the deprivation that exists in Gaza. The representative of the United Nations relief and works agency in Gaza stated that to make the progress, Hamas needs to be involved in talks. I agree entirely with the part of the Minister's reply that unequivocally condemns violence, be it in the context of rockets aimed at civilian villages in southern Israel or the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians. One must be clear in this regard. However, does the Minister agree it would be valuable if the Union engaged with both Hamas and Fatah in an effort to achieve a solution, even on the practical ground that the crossing point at Rafah is controlled by Hamas in Gaza? Is it not somewhat abstract to suggest that Fatah will run a crossing point where it has no presence?

Is the Union in a position to go back on its decision not to recognise the result of the elections? The Minister mentioned the importance of international monitoring but these elections were monitored by the Carter Institute, among other bodies, and regarded as fair. I do not defend Hamas but simply make a case for the future of a peace process that must include Hamas and Fatah.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The thorny issue of engagement with Hamas resonates with our own difficulties in engaging with people who had the Armalite in one hand and the ballot box in the other. We have had this discussion on numerous occasions since Hamas was successful at the ballot box. During my first visit to Jerusalem and Israel, the then Foreign Minister handed me the charter of Hamas and asked me to read the paragraph which declares that the primary aim of anyone who is a member of Hamas is the destruction of Israel. If we really want a two-state solution, it must be two states both ways. If Hamas is hell bent on the destruction of Israel, I am not altogether sure if we can engage with the party.

The absence of reconciliation among the people of Palestine and the ongoing battle for hearts and minds between Hamas and Fatah represent a huge tragedy for the Palestinian people. Ireland is forthright on the need for a Palestinian state, but from a diplomatic and democratic perspective it is difficult to negotiate with Israel when Palestinians themselves do not have the opportunity to speak with one voice. One of the main efforts we have been making at EU level is to engage with moderate Arab nations in order to assist the coming together of the two factions in Palestine. I hope this issue will be discussed at the upcoming meeting in Malta between the EU and the Arab League with a view to achieving some semblance of unity of purpose among the Palestinian people. The EU has made it clear that it will not engage with Hamas until it fully commits to politics and the peace process and makes clear its readiness to support the two-state solution.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister agree that, while peace processes generally comprise small steps, in the case of the Middle East the best way forward is perhaps an acknowledgement of the final solution? With respect to our questions on the Government's policy regarding the conflict between Palestine and Israel, he mentioned a two-state solution. Am I correct in assuming that the Government's policy also includes a return to the pre-1967 borders, or borders as agreed by both parties, and an agreement on the return or otherwise of refugees from 1948 and 1967? He mentioned in his reply that works should be frozen in the settlement areas. Does that include the deconstruction of outposts built since March 2001?

We also have to recognise the right of Israel to protects its citizens within international law and should condemn Palestinians for attacking Israel citizens in a wanton manner and ask them to desist from these attacks. If that is Government policy, Fine Gael would support it.

I ask the Minister to use his influence in the EU to play a greater role because we too often look to the United States to solve the problems in the Middle East. If the problems between Palestine and Israel are solved, many other issues will be resolved as a result. Does the Minister agree that the solution might lie in the EU building stronger trade links between Israel and Palestine because economic progress on the ground will be of great assistance to peace? Perhaps the EU needs to be more proactive rather than handing the leading role to the United States.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I do not agree that we have handed the leading role to the United States. The fact is that the US has the greatest influence on the Israelis, so it has to be involved. Thankfully, it has been more involved in recent times than heretofore. The EU has been very active in this area. As paymasters for the humanitarian situation, we provided in the region of €1 billion to the Palestinian people last year, which is a sizeable increase on the previous year. We have also been heavily involved in all the negotiations and, as I noted earlier, the issue will be on the table at next week's meeting in Malta between the Arab League and the EU.

I concur with the Deputy's long list of governmental policies which are additional to the two-state solution. These policies have been articulated by the Government and the EU over many years. The Middle East peace process has been on the agenda of every General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting I have attended since 2004 and the EU has been very active in terms of discussions with officials and between the EU and Israel and Palestine aimed at bringing the matter to some sort of solution. We would all accept that a solution to the Israel-Palestine issue would be the keystone for better regional stability.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I have no difficulty in agreeing to the agenda set out by Deputy Timmins in regard to the elements of a final solution. When we raised this issue previously, I noted that the Northern Ireland peace process had benefited from a permanent secretariat and drew a contrast with the so-called roadmap, which has no secretariat. My suggestion was that a permanent secretariat might have been established for the Quartet. Does the Minister agree it is difficult to accept the utility of the Quartet's proposals given that they will be advanced by one member, the United States, which has a considerable influence on Israel?

Do I understand correctly that if the Arab League negotiates between Fatah and Hamas, the European Union would have no difficulty in negotiating with the Arab League on Palestinian interests?

We are agreed on our condemnation of all violence but would the Minister agree it is tragic that the destruction of houses in East Jerusalem has not stopped and that settlement expansion has not been frozen at Ma'alih Adoumim and the area near Jerusalem? There has been both an extension of settlements and what is referred to in Israel as a thickening of existing illegal settlements. The Minister's credibility is at stake if he does not also condemn that.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy on the issues he raised in regard to the increasing and deepening of the settlements. We were surprised but welcomed President Bush's condemnation of the settlements and his clear indication that the US was of the view that they should not continue. If a two-state solution is ultimately to be found, these creeping increases in settlements will leave the issue of borders that bit more difficult to solve given the fact that people have moved in.

I accept fully that the Israelis have significant issues in regard to what is emanating from Gaza but Israel has engaged in collective punishment of the people of Gaza. There are ways and means of addressing the difficulties that arise in Gaza but to mete out punishment on one of the most populous areas of the world is unjustified. These issues point to the need for a greater focus on this area. I do not say Deputy Higgins's suggestion of a permanent secretariat for the Quartet should not be considered. Perhaps it should be given even greater consideration in light of the significant number of international envoys — Tony Blair not least among them — present in the area.

The simple lesson to be learned from the Irish peace process is that there can never be a military solution to the problem, which is something the Israelis and Hamas must understand. This realisation confirms the view we have always expressed, namely, that the only way to deal with this matter is through engagement involving moderate Arab states, the US, the EU and the Palestinian people and the Israelis.