Tánaiste to begin Israel and Palestinian territories visit
26.01.2012
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, is travelling to the Middle East today to begin a four-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Tomorrow, he will visit Gaza to meet with the commissioner general of UNRWA (the UN Relief and Works Agency), Filippo Grandi, and visit a number of UNRWA-operated schools and projects.
He will also meet with a number of NGOs dealing with human rights issues in Gaza, as well as with local business people to hear about the continuing impact on the Gaza economy of the Israeli blockade.
During his visit, the Tánaiste will also meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Riad Malki and, in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.
“The search for peace in the Middle East remains a core objective of Irish foreign policy,” said the Tánaiste. “In my discussions with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, I will be underlining Ireland’s and the EU’s continuing strong desire to see substantive direct peace talks begin as soon as possible.”