Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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56. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action the Government is taking at European level to assist with bringing about a resolution regarding the Israeli and Palestine conflict, in view of recent comments by the US President, Mr. Trump. [8708/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Notwithstanding other concurrent crises in the Middle East region, the resolution of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict remains a priority for the Government and for the European Union, and one on which I have devoted a lot of time at EU level and in visits to the region. Already this year, the issue has been discussed at both the January and February meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, and is expected to be on the agenda again in March. The background is a very troubling one of stagnation in the political process and worsening developments on the ground, but our efforts continue.

Some remarks and suggestions by President Trump in relation to these issues have been widely publicised and may be unhelpful, but the policy of his administration remains to emerge. The advent of any new US Administration tends to introduce a period of uncertainty in relation to the Middle East Peace Process.

For our part, Ireland and our EU colleagues remain fully committed to a two state solution to the conflict, as the only option which can meet the needs of both sides, however difficult it may be to achieve. This is also the overwhelming view of the international community, as expressed in the declaration of the Paris Conference which I attended in January. The EU will continue to espouse and advance this approach, including in discussions with the United States.