John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I congratulate the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Treacy, for his speech on this motion. He began and finished the speech addressing the humanitarian aspect of the situation, which has not been a feature of the debate. We can all apportion blame, pointing the finger at the terrorism of the Israeli state or Hamas. The dominant concern of the Government and the EU must be the humanitarian dimension. It is worth noting the conclusions of the EU Presidency of the European Council meeting of 15 and 16 June. It states:

The European Council urges Israel to resume transfers of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues which are essential in averting a crisis in the Palestinian territories.

The European Council stresses the need for a coordinated international response to the deterioration of the humanitarian, economic and financial situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The European Council endorses the proposed temporary international mechanism to channel assistance directly to the Palestinian people, which has been drawn up by the Commission following consultations within the EU as well as with Quartet members, major donors, international financial institutions and partners in the region. The European Council appreciates the Commission's work so far and requests it to continue urgently establishing the mechanism, in conjunction with Quartet members, other key international partners and the Palestinian Authority President's Office.

The European Council agrees that, in order to achieve an immediate impact, the mechanism will focus on essential supplies and running costs for social services and health, supply of utilities including fuel, and social allowances. Other donors, including Arab states, are invited to provide funding and to consider early and substantial contributions.

One would have thought other Arab states would have been the immediate donors before the EU. The EU, far from ignoring these matters, is deeply concerned with them. I support Christian Aid's position. On two occasions I have raised the matter at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and once at the Forum for Europe with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and, more recently, the Finnish ambassador. I am disappointed that in the Finnish EU Presidency's objectives only a passing reference is made to Palestine. The humanitarian aspect has to be the dominant one in the EU's approach. Finland has a good record in this area. I appeal to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, through the GAERC and the Finnish EU Presidency, to keep this matter dominant in discussions on the Middle East peace process. Our objective is peace but we must concentrate on the people most affected, namely, those on the ground.

President Abbas must be supported because he is in a difficult position in dealing with the Hamas Government. He has shown himself to be a good leader and keen to negotiate. He is the key to progress in the peace process.

There is also the matter of the body of Private Kevin Joyce. I, and others, met the late Mr. Arafat on several occasions. At one time, the former Senator Mick Lanigan was very vigorous and vocal on the need to recover Private Joyce's body. At the time, Mr. Arafat gave undertakings that he would try to do so. I believe he did everything in his powers but to no avail. We must concentrate more on resolving the issue.

Law is law. One cannot bulldoze houses and detain parliamentarians. If a state does so, it must lay charges and not just do it unilaterally.