The Government should use its influence within the EU to secure human rights for Palestinians affected by the so-called "security barrier" being built by the Israeli government.
The call was made today at the Dublin launch of a new report by the relief and development agency Christian Aid.
The report warns that any chance of a two-state solution for Palestinian and Israeli people is vanishing, due to Israel's illegal actions in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Entitled, Facts on the ground: the end of the two-state solution?, it argues that the European Union is complicit in the conflict through negligence, and warns that "without urgent measures to address the land issue at the heart of the conflict, there will be no end to violence."
Launching the report in Dublin today, Senator David Norris said the Government should push for a clause in the EU/Israel agreement, which gives Israel access to EU markets, to ensure the application of human rights in the West Bank. In the event of non-compliance trade sanctions could be used, he said.
"The trade agreement should be examined. There are human rights abuses committed against men, old women and children every day. I've been there and seen what is happening to children." he said.
The agency report found that poverty levels are rising and there is mounting malnutrition and anaemia among Palestinians. It also found that unemployment is rising as farmers are prevented from tilling their land and their olive groves which are dying.
The report found that the situation has been exacerbated by the erection by the Israeli government of the contentious 'security barrier' between Israel and the West Bank.
A UN resolution passed in July in New York, by an overwhelming majority, called for the barrier to be dismantled in line with an earlier ruling by the International Court of Justice . Israel officials vowed however to continue with the construction of the wall.
Senator Norris, said today that "the situation in Israel has not been helped by the ham-fisted manoeuvres of George W Bush."
Mr Oisin Coghlan, Policy Officer, Christian Aid, said the agency is to meet next week with delegates from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach, to discuss their proposals further.