Political delegation to visit Middle East

A CROSS-PARTY group of politicians will visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority this week

A CROSS-PARTY group of politicians will visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority this week. A delegation from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs will visit the region following an upsurge in violence in recent days.

Committee chairman Dr Michael Woods said the visit was an opportunity to strengthen ties between Ireland, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The Irish delegation was invited by Tzachi Hanegbi, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Israeli Knesset, and by the Palestinian Authorities. It includes Dr Rory O'Hanlon, Michael D Higgins, Seán Ardagh, Alan Shatter and Senator Mark Daly.