Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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44. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the new initiatives the EU plans to pursue; if the EU will take a stronger role in seeking resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict following the announcement made by the United States of America that its embassy would be moved to Jerusalem. [28058/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The United States administration has been working for over a year on developing an initiative to restart direct negotiations to reach a final peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The details of the plan have been kept closely confidential, but there are some indications that it may be unveiled soon. The resolution of this conflict remains a high foreign policy priority for the EU, as it is for the Government and for myself. There is no intention at EU level to launch a separate initiative at this time, which could cut across the efforts by the United States. We recognise that the US is in a position to play a potentially valuable role on this issue. In EU discussions and statements we have sought to encourage the US in its efforts, and to encourage both parties to be open to any helpful initiative. In particular, the EU has sought constructively to help shape the US initiative, by underlining that a successful peace plan, and one that can be supported by the international community, must address the needs of both sides, and the basic parameters for a settlement which have been endorsed by the international community on many occasions. I have argued at EU level in favour of this engagement with the US, and have myself discussed and exchanged ideas with the US team on a number of occasions, including on my visits to the region and to the United States.

I am fully aware of the difficulties facing the US initiative, and I am of the strong view – which I have expressed directly to US interlocutors and outlined previously to this House - that the regrettable move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem has been detrimental to their efforts. But I believe it would be misguided not to try to support and influence the US’s planning for an initiative, as long as there is a chance that it can bring about a lasting peace.