The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, has called on all sides in the Middle East conflict to urgently resume talks aimed at restarting the peace process.
Over 30 people, both Israeli and Palestinian, have been killed and hundreds injured in two days of violence in Israel and the occupied territories.
"It is clear yet again that terrorist attacks and military reprisals can do nothing to advance the aim of the Palestinians to achieve a State of their own or of Israel's to live in peace and security," he said. "Political negotiation offers the only path out of recurrent violence and suffering."
Mr Cowen called for a resumption of talks and the adoption of the Roadmap solution proposed by the Quartet, which "enjoys the support of the international community".