Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether and if the European Union will insist that the current withdrawal of occupation in Gaza will be effected and followed by withdrawal from the West Bank and the territory adjoining east Jerusalem (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18476/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the fact that the withdrawal announced by the Israeli Government includes withdrawal from a number of settlements in the West Bank and I hope that this will mark the beginning of a comprehensive retreat from the occupied territories.

The Government, together with Ireland's partners in the EU, has repeatedly reaffirmed its position that the proposed Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank is to be welcomed so long as it takes place in conformity with the conditions endorsed by the European Council in March 2004. The Council noted five elements which are essential to make a Gaza withdrawal acceptable to the international community: it must take place in the context of the roadmap; it must be a step towards a two state solution; it must not involve a transfer of settlement activity to the West Bank; there must be an organised and negotiated handover of responsibility to the Palestinian Authority; and Israel must facilitate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza.

The roadmap remains the best framework within which to achieve a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The members of the international quartet of the European Union, Russia, the United States and the Secretary General of the United Nations are all committed to the roadmap. This commitment has been repeatedly reaffirmed in the international quartet statements, most recently on 9 May in Moscow.

At the seventh Euro-Mediterranean ministerial meeting, which I attended on 30 and 31 May, the EU Foreign Ministers and their partners in the region considered the future direction of the Middle East peace process. In our conclusions, which, for the first time in many years, were adopted by consensus, we recalled our attachment to the roadmap and underlined the central and unifying role of the quartet. We called for the rapid implementation of the roadmap and encouraged the parties to continue on the path of direct dialogue and negotiation in the fulfilment of the vision of two states, a safe and secure Israel, and a viable, sovereign, contiguous, democratic Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

Together with our EU partners, we will continue to work for a negotiated end to the conflict leading to two states, Israel and Palestine, living at peace within secure and recognised borders. There can be no substitute for political negotiations between the parties to the conflict, leading to a lasting political settlement.