Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I thank the Minister of State for his balanced contribution. He referred in his speech to what he termed the Government's "balanced" and "long-term" approach. It is clear that it is balanced and that it focuses on the long term. The crisis being faced at present needs to be dealt with in the short term, however. Every hour that passes during the current crisis will make it harder to manage the problems in Palestine in the long term.

I thank the Minister of State for outlining what he described as the Government's "balanced" and "long-term" approach and I commend Senator Ryan on proposing this motion, which I support. As a democratically elected House, it is extremely important that the Seanad should discuss this matter of such global concern. Senator Minihan spoke earlier about RTE's coverage of the current difficulties in Palestine. My information on this issue comes largely from RTE reports. I commend RTE, and Mr. RichardCrowley in particular, for its extraordinarily well-informed and extensive reports on the matter. I am glad that RTE has allowed Mr. Crowley to report the recent developments in Palestine to the people of this country.

The Seanad is an elected House. While many people did not like the result of the Palestinian election and do not like the Hamas-led Government, they cannot deny that the Government of Palestine was democratically elected. It is often the case that people do not like the results of elections, but in this case a Government was democratically elected to represent the Palestinian people and it must be treated as such.

The Hamas Government must commit to the peace process. It must be our stand that all parties commit to the process. However, when was the last time democratically-elected representatives were bombed into a peace process? When was the last time a people were starved into submission and a peace process? If they were bombed, starved or terrorised to the negotiating table, did it achieve the right long-term result? I do not believe it would have. Is the Israeli strategy designed to build trust and produce a balanced long-term solution? It does not appear to be.

The pictures of the building of the West Bank barrier are outrageous to our democracy. We should look to examples of our history to see how we have proceeded with our peace process. All Members want a peace process between Israel and Palestine. In our peace process, there had to be a ceasefire first and a buying into the process. Recently, during the comments on the legacy of the former Taoiseach, Mr. Charles Haughey, it was recalled there were times to keep the door open to people who many would consider terrorists. In the Palestinian case, it is a democratically-elected Government.

The EU approach to the process is very difficult and it must do more for it. The EU embargo against the Hamas Government is not the way forward and I do not support it. The reason the motion does not refer to Corporal Gilad Shalit is that when we submitted it last Thursday, we hoped his abduction would have been resolved.

Members on both sides of the House have expressed strong views for one side or the other. The Minister has produced a balanced long-term approach. It may appear to some that our motion is not balanced. It represents, however, the views of many people — that there has to be a pull-back. One speaker asked what violence the motion referred to. We are referring to all violence. The House must recognise, however, there is a disproportionate burden of suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people.

I do not believe the media are filtering information on this issue. It is from journalists such as Richard Crowley and Robert Fisk, who has written on this topic, that I get my information. I have not visited either state unlike many Members who have and are better informed than me. I am processing my information as most members of the public do. It is clear there is a disproportionate burden on the Palestinian people. Stating that does not mean the House is not supportive of the demand for the Hamas Government to commit to the peace process. What is happening is not acceptable and cannot advance the peace process.