The Government should use its international influence to bring about a return to peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, Sinn Féin said today.
The party's national chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, urged the Taoiseach to use its position in the United Nations and European Union to press for talks after the shooting dead in Jenin of a British UN aid worker and three Palestinians and the wounding of an Irish human rights worker by Israeli soldiers.
Describing the killings and the wounding of Irish human rights activist Ms Caoimhe Butterly as an outrage, Mr McLaughlin said the time had long since past for the United Nations to intervene.
"Last week's wounding of Caoimhe Butterly brought home to Irish people the daily experience of ordinary Palestinians over the last number of years," Mr McLaughlin said.
"The UN has a responsibility to take the Israeli government to task and to end the silence of the international community in relation to this and many other attacks.
"The daily violence in the Middle East is a source of great distress. The suicide attacks, the killing of civilians, the invasion by Israel of Palestinian territory and the deliberate targeting for assassination of Palestinian leaders should end.
"It is imperative that Israel engages in genuine negotiation and dialogue with the Palestinian people and there is a clear role for the international community to help in such a process," he said.
The Israeli Army admitted its soldiers killed British aid worker Mr Iain Hook (53), an employee of the UN Relief and Works Agency, during a raid on Friday on the Palestinian refugee camp in Jenin.
PA