Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 March 2013
53. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps the EU will take to re-launch the Israel-Palestine peace process in view of President Obama's visit to the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15596/13]
View answerI have noted on many occasions in the past year, including here in the Oireachtas, that the Middle East Peace Process has become bogged down and is badly in need of a renewed impetus. The uncertainties linked to the elections in both Israel and the USA contributed to this stalemate. Conversely, the renewed electoral mandates now of both the Israeli Government and the US Administration provide an important opportunity to restore momentum to the process.
While it is important not to overstate matters or to create false expectations, President Obama’s visit to Israel last week represented an early move on the part of the United States to explore this opportunity. The President made clear that he was in listening mode and would not be launching any initiative.
Nonetheless, his public outreach to both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples (including an important address in Jerusalem on 21 March to a largely young Israeli audience) and his lengthy political discussions in private with both parties to the conflict were significant steps. The President and Secretary Kerry will now reflect on what they have heard and on what may be possible.
The European Union has always recognised that it would be very difficult to restart negotiations in the Middle East without the active engagement of the United States. The EU will be working hard, accordingly, to encourage and support this renewed US involvement, in our contacts with the parties in the region and also in our exchanges with political opinion in the US itself. I already conveyed to Secretary Kerry the strong encouragement of the EU and discussed the possibilities with him at a meeting I had with him in Washington on 18 March just before he left for Israel.
As I have stated elsewhere, I also believe that the EU must remain active as well on the practical issues on the ground which we have highlighted in the last year – and which have the potential to destroy any political effort to reach agreement if they are allowed to fester.
