Cowen condemns `excessive force' by Israel in talks with Palestine minister

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, has criticised the "appalling display of excessive force" by the Israeli forces in the continuing disturbances in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Speaking after a meeting in Dublin with a prominent minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Nabil Sha'ath, Mr Cowen said he expected the European Union to "meet its responsibilities" on the international stage when the Council of Foreign Ministers meets next Sunday in Brussels.

Mr Cowen extended to Mr Sha'ath his deepest sympathy to the families of those who died in the past week's violence, and to the injured.

He repeated a call to all sides to exercise restraint and to do everything possible to avoid confrontations.

In particular, he singled out the Israeli forces, calling on them to "moderate their excessive reaction".

"The tragic events of the past few days underline the need for both sides to act quickly to reach agreement in the Middle East peace process.

"The peace negotiations offer the only path out of the recurring cycle of bloodshed and suffering."

The Government is expected to press the EU at next Sunday's meeting to be more directly critical of the Israeli forces' action.

Until now the French Presidency of the EU has called on "all sides" to show restraint, but has avoided direct criticism of Israel.

Mr Cowen said the Government had received first-hand reports of the violence from the Irish representative based in Ramallah.

These and other reports provided evidence of "massive overkill' in relation to the use of force.

He pointed out, for example, that sniper fire had been used to quell the disturbances, rather than water-cannon or other non-lethal methods.

Mr Sha'ath, who is Minister for Planning and International Co-operation in the Palestinian Authority, called for the setting up of an international fact-finding commission to establish what exactly had happened in the past week.

"We need such a body, something like the truth commission in South Africa, to determine responsibility for the deaths and to begin the healing process," he said.

It was very important that Ireland used its influence in the EU to press for the upholding of human rights, he said.

"Ireland has often played such a role in the past, and so I am confident it will continue to do so, especially given the common interests and history of Ireland and Palestine."

Mr Sha'ath expressed confidence that the situation could improve, but warned that Palestinians, both in the authority area and in Israel, needed protection against attacks by Israeli forces.

Mr Sha'ath's visit was planned before the latest disturbances.

Mr Cowen also repeated Ireland's support for the peace process. "Only a negotiated settlement can offer a way out of the recurring cycle of violence which has afflicted the region for so long," he said.