Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

Unfortunately four years ago when it was launched, the Iraq war was seen by US President Bush and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, as exemplifying an ethical foreign policy. I am very suspicious of moral crusades particularly ones using force to justify a position. One should not overdo the high ethical content because very often it is compatible with very shabby practices, as we know.

I wish to respond to what Senator Quinn said. Unfortunately I did not hear the previous contribution. I agree that contributions to the Middle East are very often unbalanced in one direction or the other. I believe that a policy of constructive engagement with Hamas is required. That is, after all, what brought success to the peace process. It is entirely unreasonable to suggest that recognition of the state of Israel be a precondition for any kind of engagement. It would be like insisting that changing Articles 2 and 3 should have been a precondition of any negotiations on Northern Ireland.

I am sorry that we are approaching a general election. I received an invitation — I will not be more specific than this — to go to talk in a very distant part of the world to certain groups in the Middle East about the Irish peace process. In any other circumstances I would have gone because I believe exchanges about experiences are important. Senator Quinn claimed we are very hard on Israel. The problem with the Middle East is that the United States is exceptionally soft on Israel.