Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

It does not take from the terrible tragedies of the Israeli people who suffered from the rockets.

Israel lost the battle. As a result of that there has been an outcry throughout the world, even from its own friends. The information it puts out is no longer seen as credible. Even when it bombed a United Nations centre, it denied it at first, then agreed that perhaps bombs were dropped in close proximity and then tried to suggest there was terrorist activity. Israel has no credibility left.

Allowing for the terrible things that have happened, one must now get down to dialogue. There is a time when one must draw a line in the sand, even though Israel must be held accountable for what it did. Any democrat and person committed to democratic concepts must say that whatever terrible things happened in the past, we must now move forward. Perhaps there can be a unity Government.

I trust President Obama. He is working against a terrible backdrop because the commercial, political and media influence of Israel within America is almost insurmountable. That is the problem. I have a feeling President Obama is an idealist and believes in human rights. His own history and background will make him think very deeply.

I fully commend the Government for its stance and the document we received today from the Minister of State gives me significant hope that we still have the neutral, independent, sovereign approach and think first of human rights, the helpless and the vulnerable.