Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views and the action he has taken in relation to the contents of a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3474/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is clear that the conflict in Gaza has been a profound tragedy for both the people of the territory and for the wider peace process. The bare statistics of the war in Gaza are grim: more than 1300 people have been killed, thousands of others wounded, and much of Gaza left in ruins. Initial estimates indicate that the rebuilding process could cost in excess of $2 billion and take three to five years. Clearly, there is now much work to be done, both to help the Palestinians in Gaza recover from the terrible events of the last 6 weeks and also to help rebuild confidence amongst Palestinians and Israelis in the peace process.

I welcome that the unilateral ceasefires announced by Israel and Hamas on 18 January broadly continue to hold, though it is of great concern that there have been a number of serious incidents in recent days. I urge all those in positions of authority to use their efforts to make the ceasefires more secure and lasting, rather than renew the cycle of retaliation and escalation. The imperative therefore must be consolidating the truce through the full implementation of United Nations Security Council 1860. This requires a complete halt to all rocket fire and militant attacks from Gaza, an end to arms smuggling into the territory, and the full reopening of border crossings, for both commercial and humanitarian goods.

I am especially anxious that the border crossings be reopened as soon as possible and that the economic blockade of Gaza in existence since June 2007 should be ended. The isolation of the people of Gaza has been unjust and unacceptable. It has also been politically counterproductive — strengthening the hand of extremists and undermining support for moderates who call for compromise over conflict. More than ever, Gaza requires stability and economic recovery, and this can only be achieved through the reopening of its border crossings.

While I can understand the understandable anger and frustration at the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza, calls for a boycott of Israel, be it diplomatic, commercial, sporting, or otherwise, do not constitute an appropriate response. Any boycott would only serve to harden attitudes in Israel to the peace process and to the benefits of negotiation with the Palestinians. Similarly, calls for an EU trade boycott, the suspension of the existing Association Agreement or imposition of an arms embargo are not practicable as they would not have any prospect of attracting the necessary consensus amongst member states. We need to encourage efforts to agree on a two-State solution — exclusionary policies or boycotts would do the opposite.

Looking forward, and in order to move away from the grim cycle of violence which has too often characterised the region, the search for a comprehensive peace in the Middle East must be the diplomatic priority for the international community. With this in mind, I have met this week with the Presidents of both Syria and Lebanon.

I am greatly encouraged in this regard by the renewed US involvement in support of the peace process and President Obama's promise that his administration will "actively and aggressively" pursue Middle East peace. I have warmly welcomed the appointment of George Mitchell, a man whose rigorous impartiality and superb mediation skills were amply demonstrated in Ireland, as an inspired choice to serve as President Obama's Middle East envoy. Ireland and our EU Partners look forward to working closely together with Secretary of State Clinton and Senator Mitchell in a renewed transatlantic effort to promote what Europe and America recognise as the strategic priority of a comprehensive Middle East peace settlement.

Following this crisis in Gaza, it is more critical than ever that the Palestinian and Israeli people can have faith in a revived and credible political process that is seen to be addressing the underlying causes of the conflict and leading to a two-State solution. However, no comprehensive peace is possible without intra-Palestinian reconciliation and the political reunification of Gaza and the West Bank, and I support the efforts of Egypt and other regional actors to promote such reconciliation.