Micheál Martin
Ceist:84. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to visit Israel and Palestine in the near future. [35087/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 July 2018
Ceisteanna (84)
Freagraí scríofa
The Middle East Peace Process has been a priority for me since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade last year. I have visited the region three times already, and hope to return again before the end of the year. These visits have allowed me to have substantive discussions with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the broader prospects of restarting the political process, and on providing practical alternatives to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, among other things.
I will continue to do everything I can to ensure Ireland can influence the political debate with the aim of resolving the conflict and bringing to an end the Israeli occupation. I believe Ireland can play a positive role in working towards an agreed solution to the conflict, with Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace and prosperity. In all my engagements in the Middle East, I have reiterated Ireland’s strong commitment to a negotiated two-State solution to the conflict, that is fair, just and lasting, and our desire to support such efforts, both bilaterally and through the EU.