Smith raises concerns over Israel-Gaza conflict

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Brendan Smith TD has been consistently raising the issue of the conflict in Gaza and Israel over the past number of weeks in the Dáil.

The situation has escalated in recent weeks with multiple deaths and injuries.  A temporary 5 hour ceasefire was observed earlier today but that has now lapsed.  Talks are continuing to establish if a more permanent solution can be found.  Deputy Smith has been posing questions about the situation to the Minister for Foreign Affairs since the conflict began escalating. These include:

• To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has been in contact with other Members of the EU Foreign Affairs Council or with Commissioner Ashton in relation to the escalating Israel/Palestine conflict; if the European Union proposes to take any specific initiative in relation to this conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
• To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals, if any, he has outlined at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings in relation to the urgent need for the European Union to play a more active role to assist in confronting the obstacles impeding a negotiated, two-State solution in relation to Israel/Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
• To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals,  he has outlined at EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings in relation to the need for an adequate programme of labelling of products due to Israel’s continued expansion of settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
• To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there have been discussions at EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings in relation to the need for Israel to desist from its continued expansion of settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
• To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise at the forthcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting the urgent need for an early resumption of negotiations pertaining to the Middle East peace process in view of the deteriorating situation in that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.