Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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26. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 21 March 2023, if he will provide an update on his bilateral engagement to-date in 2023 with his Israeli counterpart with regard to the ongoing demolition and seizure of Palestinian property in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as the recent escalation in violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19870/23]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of meetings that have been held with the Israeli ambassador about the dramatic increase in violence in Palestine. [19789/23]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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53. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will call in the Israeli ambassador to Ireland to establish the steps that are being taken in relation to the escalating violence by Israel on Palestinians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19618/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 39 and 53 together.

I reiterate the comments made in my reply to Deputy Connolly to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 21 March 2023. Our position remains unchanged. Ireland is committed to supporting a just and sustainable peace on the basis of a two-State solution.

I have not yet spoken to my Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Cohen, though hope to do so in due course to repeat our concerns on demolitions and the seizure of Palestinian property.

My officials have engaged with the Israeli Ambassador in Dublin in recent weeks, including on the issue of the recent escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. I issued statements on 24 March and 7 April in which I expressed my concern at the situation on the ground and highlighted the importance of protection of civilians.

The focus of parties must be on urgent de-escalation and on the restoration of a genuine political horizon. The only lasting solution to the conflict can be through relaunching meaningful negotiations between the parties to realise a two-State solution.