Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I thank Senator Norris for tabling the motion which I support. I thank him for his account of his visit to the occupied territories. I welcome the two Ministers and thank the Minister, Deputy Cowen, for his informative account of the initiatives he has taken in the last few months, which I welcome. I welcome in particular the fact that he met with Prime Minister Sharon and President Arafat. I also welcome the fact that the Irish Government tried to sponsor a motion on anti-Semitism at the UN, with which there were difficulties. It was well intentioned and the right thing to do. There is an issue regarding anti-Semitism — I am not referring to anyone here — when associating Israelis or Jewish people in general with the acts of a particular Israeli Government, which should be guarded against. A small minority of people take this attitude, which was behind acts such as the recent bombing of the synagogue in Turkey.

I am a supporter of Israel and Palestine. I would like to see as soon as possible two states, Palestinian and Israeli, which are both secure and economically and socially viable. As someone who has always supported Israel, when I listen to Senator Norris and read in the media what is happening in the occupied territories, I feel ashamed of the actions of the current Israeli Government. The Irish Government should do what it can in the next few months, in conjunction with the international community, to put pressure on the Israeli Government to reverse its policy, halt construction of the wall and remove it.

Senator Ryan referred to the Israelis hearing what people in Ireland think. My understanding from polls carried out in Israel is that the majority of Israelis want peace. Approximately 31% of people supported the Geneva Accord, 20% were undecided and 38% were against it. I understand that the majority of Israelis polled supported the road map and support Prime Minister Sharon's latest proposals. I think at this stage more blame attaches to the Israeli Government than to the Palestinians. There is no doubt the Palestinians are the weaker side who effectively have been brought to heel by the Israeli Government. However, there is blame on both sides. I agree with Senator Hayes and Senator Quinn that people must move beyond the blame stage. While there is no peace, more people will die and both sides will have blood on their hands.

I welcome the fact that the Palestinian Delegate General to Ireland, Dr. Ali Halimeh, is here today. President Arafat has been involved in many historic attempts at achieving peace over the years, but he must now allow others to come forward and play an uninhibited role in any peace process that evolves. I do not have all the information but, as an outside observer, I do not feel he played that role in regard to Mr. Abbas, which he and the Palestinian Authority should consider.

I am sceptical about Prime Minister Sharon's latest proposals, as are many Israelis, because of his past behaviour. It indicates that perhaps there is a shift in thought which, as Senator Hayes said, is welcome. It would be wrong for him to do something like this unilaterally. Any kind of movement must be on the basis of a negotiated peaceful settlement between the two sides. Both sides must show good faith and make concessions. There is that willingness on the part of the Palestinian Authority and among many Israeli representatives. The Geneva Accord shows how things can be done. I am not saying it is how matters will work out eventually. We must be critical of actions on both sides which cause damage. We should try to play a positive role in working with both sides. This is the approach the Government has been taking, which I welcome.