Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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196. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to the refusal of Israel to grant access to the sovereign State of Palestine to a delegation of the European Parliament to engage with the Palestinian prime minister, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expatriates, EU representatives and civil society, his response and the diplomatic sanctions he intends to introduce in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9771/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that members of a European Parliament delegation undertaking an official programme were refused access to Israel. Lynn Boylan MEP, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine, has written to me about the experience of the delegation and is in contact with my officials.

My officials have raised the experience of the European Parliament delegation with the EU Delegations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. It will be important to ascertain more details about what happened, including clarifications from the Israeli authorities.

I reiterate that diplomatic and political contacts are essential at this critical time in the region.