Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent election of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; if he has had any contact with his government regarding Palestine, the Occupied West Bank and Gaza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4450/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a key foreign policy priority for Ireland.

Israel’s new Government took office on 29 December. I have written to Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, reiterating Ireland’s close engagement and unwavering commitment to supporting a just and sustainable peace on the basis of a two-State solution. I look forward to having the chance to speak with Minister Cohen on a range of issues in due course. The recent developments in Jenin are of particular concern and I would draw the attention of the Deputy to my public statement on this matter.

I also had the opportunity to discuss a range of issues related to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory in a phone call with the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riad Malki, on 18 January. Prime Minister Shtayyeh and Foreign Minister Malki also engaged in a lunchtime discussion with all EU Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 January and I welcome that there was agreement at that meeting to deepen the EU’s bilateral relations with the Palestinian Authority, including through the establishment of a high-level political dialogue.