Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 April 2017
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to encourage re-engagement in the peace process in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18648/17]
View answerNotwithstanding other concurrent crises in the Middle East region, the resolution of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict remains a priority for the Government and for the European Union, and one to which I have devoted a lot of time at EU level and in visits to the region. Already the issue has been discussed at three of the four meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council held so far this year.
The background is a very troubling one of stagnation in the political process and worsening developments on the ground. The significant effort led by France last year, including the holding of two major conferences, was able to maintain an international focus on the issue but was not able to restore any momentum to the political process. Regrettably, the Israeli Government refused to attend or to engage in any way with the French initiative. The Palestinian side, aware of this, has also focused its attention elsewhere for the moment.
The stance of the new United States Administration is, as ever, likely to be a major factor in prospects for reviving the peace process. The Administration is currently engaged in a policy review and President Trump’s new Middle East envoy has just returned from his first exploratory visit to the region.
For our part, Ireland and our EU colleagues remain fully committed to a two state solution to the conflict, as the only option which can meet the needs of both sides, however difficult it may be to achieve. This is also the overwhelming view of the international community, as expressed in Security Council Resolution 2334 in December, and in the Declaration of the second Paris Conference which I attended in January. The EU will continue to espouse and advance this approach.
