merrion street

 JERUSALEM,

On the final day of his visit to the Middle East, the Tánaiste today met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Deputy Prime Minister Meridor and Foreign Minister Liberman to discuss  the peace process as well as other develoments in the region.

"I very much welcomed the constructive discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of his government today on the current state of the peace process and how to inject badly needed momentum into the latest peace efforts underway. 

"I emphasised to Prime Minister Netanyahu that Ireland and the EU remain strongly supportive of current Quartet efforts to re-launch substantive peace talks, as well as of the helpful facilitating role now being played by the Jordanian government."

"From our discussions in recent days, it is quite clear that what is now most urgently required are positive steps to demonstrate commitment and engender confidence on both sides."

"I particularly urged Prime Minister Netanyahu and his colleagues to take decisive action in relation to ending the blockade of Gaza and to also proceed with confidence building measures to improve the situation of the Palestinian people."

"I also made clear our position on the illegality of settlement expansion and how Israeli actions in this area impede the prospects for re-launching substantive peace talks."

Earlier today the Tánaiste commemorated the victims of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem.  The Tánaiste toured the Holocaust History Museum, participated in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance and visited the Children's Memorial.  The event coincides with Ireland's own Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration in the Mansion House in Dublin today addressed by President Higgins.