The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, had a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Mr Silvan Shalom in Brussels today to discuss relations between Ireland and Israel and the situation in the Middle East.
Mr Cowen visited the Middle East in late June but was unable to meet Israeli ministers due to their policy of refusing to meet foreign dignitaries who called on President Yasser Arafat, as Mr Cowen had done on his visit.
Yesterday the European Union stepped up pressure on Israel to abandon its boycott of EU diplomats who continue to meet President Arafat.
EU foreign ministers agreed yesterday to tell Mr Shalom the Israeli government's refusal to meet formally with the EU's Middle East envoy, Mr Marc Otte, is damaging EU-Israeli relations.
Today's bilateral discussions between Mr Cowen and Mr Shalom covered Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the European Union, relations between Ireland and Israel and the situation in the Middle East.
The Minister assured the Israeli side of Ireland's "deep and sympathetic interest" in the search for a solution to the conflict.
He said Ireland looked forward to representing the European Union in the international Quartet, which is promoting the roadmap for peace.