Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

—deeply concerned at the increasingly serious situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, and especially at the prospect of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza;

—convinced that the immediate crisis must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and that long-term peace and stability for the Israeli and the Palestinian people can only be provided through a negotiated two-state solution;

—calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit;

—calls on the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to use all diplomatic options to ensure that the current crisis is resolved through peaceful means;

—appeals to all parties to demonstrate the courage to act with restraint and to avoid any further actions which cause additional escalation and endanger lives;

—calls for an end to all violence in and from the occupied territories;

—expresses serious concern at the effect of recent Israeli military actions on the already serious humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, especially the destruction of essential infrastructure; and calls on the Israeli Government to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that all operations are fully in accordance with international law;

—expresses its serious concern about the detention by the Israeli authorities of democratically-elected members of the Government of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Legislative Council;

—reaffirms its support for a lasting, peaceful and just settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on a negotiated and viable two-state solution; and strongly supports the position of the European Union that it will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed between the parties;

—welcomes reports of agreement between the different Palestinian groups on a national conciliation document and expresses support for the efforts, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, to complete this political process;

—emphasises the need for the Hamas Government to commit to the peace process, in accordance with the principles set out by the international community; and

—calls for an early and substantive meeting between the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of the Palestinian Authority in order to restart the negotiating process on the basis of a shared commitment to fundamental principles and adherence to international law.

I wish to put something straight at the outset. This is not about recognising the democratically-elected Government of the Palestinian Authority. I recognise its mandate and have said so before in this House and at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. One cannot object to how a people vote in a democratic election which, according to international observers and monitors, was, for the most part, freely held.

However, since 30 January, and the installation of the Hamas Government in March, the EU, along with the international Quartet which comprises the EU, the USA, Russia and the United Nations — a considerable body of international opinion, I am sure Senators will agree — have maintained a clear message that the Hamas Government must commit to the peace process. It must renounce violence, recognise Israel's right to exist and adhere to agreements negotiated by the authority, prior to the establishment of the Hamas-dominated administration, and the PLO.

Until there is progress towards this aim Ireland, as part of the EU, and the EU representatives will not have political contact with Hamas. That is perfectly clear.