Speaking today in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said:
"The conflict in Gaza was a profound tragedy, above all for its innocent victims and their families. There were far too many civilian casualties - overwhelmingly Palestinian, but also Israeli. Repairing the physical and economic damage will absorb scarce resources and energies which should have been available for other work.
As part of our ongoing programme of support to the Palestinian people, in 2008 the Irish Government provided a total of over €8.6 million in assistance. Today we will build on that support by pledging here an additional total of €2.5 million to meet immediate humanitarian and recovery needs in Gaza. I also wish to reconfirm my Government's pledge of €40 million in support to the Palestinian people made at the Paris Donors Conference in December 2007.
It is important that some of the most serious episodes of the conflict, such as the reported use of white phosphorus and the targeting and shelling of UN facilities, are the subject of full and proper investigation. I very much welcome the Panel of Enquiry which UN Secretary General Ban has established into those violent incidents which occurred on or close to UN facilities.
Reconciliation among Palestinians is also an urgent necessity, in the interests both of effective reconstruction and an ambitious and sustainable peace process. I again wish to commend the Government of Egypt and all those other governments in the region which have been facilitating dialogue aimed at such reconciliation. Ireland will continue strongly to support all efforts to achieve a national unity government which builds on the impressive achievements of President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority and is committed to achieving a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The people of Ireland were appalled by the Gaza conflict. The Irish Government is committed to maintaining its strong partnership with the Palestinian Authority, as we in the international community work collectively with it to help them re-build Gaza, strengthen the Palestinian economy and promote the earliest possible achievement of a sovereign Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-State solution."
An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha Preas Ráiteas
Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release
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