Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians which have been increasing in intensity; the steps he is taking to try ensure an end to these attacks. [25199/06]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of the European Union with regard to developments in the Middle East Peace Process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25133/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress which has been made following the conclusion of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union Meeting in Luxembourg on 3 November 2005 in relation to settlement expansion by Israel, and the Council's call on Israel to stop settlement expansion and to remove unauthorised outposts. [25254/06]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the quartet partners have held recent negotiations with regard to the Middle East Peace Process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25134/06]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when in recent times, as a principle of balance to its isolation of the Hamas Government in Palestine, the Irish government or the European Union has called on Israel to curtail its illegal settlement policy. [25252/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 34, 65, 70 and 80 together.

The Government shares the widespread concern about the lack of progress in the Middle East Peace Process and the serious situation in the Occupied Territories. The immediate priority is to ensure there is no further escalation of the situation in Gaza. It is essential that all parties exercise restraint over the coming days.

The Government has been consistently active within the EU and the UN in promoting a lasting, peaceful and just settlement of the Israeli — Palestinian conflict. The events and difficulties of recent months serve to confirm that the only way forward is through negotiations between the parties leading to a viable two-State solution. Within the Union, the Government continues to pursue a policy approach aimed at ensuring that the EU remains fully engaged in the process, with a clear and balanced message for the parties. The EU is playing a vital role in the work of the Quartet to create an environment for the earliest possible return to negotiations.

The European Council on 16 June issued a Declaration on the Middle East Peace Process which set out clearly the overall policy and the specific concerns of the European Union. The EU remains firmly committed to a negotiated two-State solution. The Declaration addressed forthrightly the recent deterioration in the security situation in Gaza and the West Bank. It condemned the violence against Palestinian civilians, the firing of rockets at Israeli population centres and the continuing extra-judicial killings. I believe it is particularly important today to underline the European Council's reminder to all parties of their responsibility to protect civilian lives.

Both parties have clear obligations under the Quartet Roadmap, and under international law. The international community has stated very clearly since 30 January that the democratically-elected Government of the Palestinian Authority must commit to the peace process. Regrettably, there has been little sign so far of significant movement in this direction by Hamas. We continue to hope that, through their cooperation with President Mahmoud Abbas and engagement in a Palestinian national dialogue, political progress will prove possible.

We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and do not believe that the Palestinian people should suffer because of the reluctance of their Government to abide by the basic rules of the peace process. The European Council endorsed the urgent work of the Commission to establish a temporary international mechanism to channel assistance directly to the Palestinian people. Following endorsement by the Quartet on 17 June, the operation of the mechanism will commence in the coming days, based on a funding allocation of €105 million by the Commission. This will bring the total Community aid to the Palestinian people so far this year to €259 million. The European Council also called on Israel to resume the transfer of withheld Palestinian tax and customs revenues, which are essential in averting a crisis in the Palestinian territories.

The Government has continued to raise directly with the Israeli authorities our concerns about the serious humanitarian and economic impact of policies and activities in the Occupied Territories. We have also worked with our partners to ensure that the EU maintains its clear position that Israel must end all activities in the Territories which are contrary to international law and which threaten the viability of a solution based on the co-existence of two States. These include the continued expansion of settlements, the construction of the separation barrier on occupied land, activities in and around East Jerusalem and in the Jordan Valley, and the demolition of Palestinian homes. The European Council Declaration set out the EU position unambiguously, and repeated the commitment of the EU that it will not recognise any change to the pre-1967 borders which is not agreed between the parties.

It is now more urgent than ever that the conditions be established for a return to meaningful negotiations. The European Council called for an early engagement between the Israeli Prime Minister and the President of the Palestinian Authority. Their informal meeting in Jordan last weekend was a small but encouraging step. It is in the interests of the Israeli and the Palestinian people that their dialogue be developed further in the weeks to come.