Vol. 529 No. 1
259 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views and the views of the European Union on the excessive force used by the Israeli defence forces on the West Bank and the streets of the Gaza Strip; the steps that can be taken in view of the tragic deaths especially of young children and others by strife and misuse of excessive force by defence personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2350/01]
The Government is gravely concerned at the crisis in the Middle East which has cost the lives of so many Palestinians and Israelis in recent months. We have made clear our position to both sides, at ministerial and official level. We deplore all acts of violence and call again on both sides to exercise the utmost restraint and to do all in their power to avoid further escalation. In particular, we have called on Israel to end the use of military force in dealing with protests where civilian policing methods would be more appropriate, and the economic blockade of Palestinian communities which is causing acute hardship.
We fully support the efforts both sides have made to reach an agreement and welcome the progress made in the talks in Taba in Egypt. We hope that this progress can be built upon to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region. I have underlined the need for both sides to act courageously to reach agreement in the peace process and to avert the danger that this conflict might escalate further. The main objective must remain the achievement of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, which must necessarily recognise both the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and Israel's right to live in peace and security. Such an agreement can end the futile cycle of aggression and counter-aggression, which perpetuates the bloodshed and suffering that has made the achievement of lasting peace and security more difficult.
The European Union has made clear to both sides the need to do all they can to end the violence and has called on Israel to withdraw its forces from Palestinian territories to the positions they occupied before the current crisis, and to end the use of military force. It has also called on the Palestinian Authority to do all in its power to end the violence. We made clear our willingness to assist in efforts to end the current violence and facilitate a return to the peace process. The General Affairs Council in Brussels last week expressed its full support for the talks in Taba, urging both sides to continue to strive for an end to violence and to continue their negotiations for an agreement in the framework of UN Security Council resolutions. The EU will continue to do all it can to defuse the crisis and to facilitate a lasting peace in the region.
