THERE appears to be no understanding in Ireland of Israel's need for security, according to the Israeli ambassador here, Mr Zvi Gabay. He was referring to recent reporting of the Middle East and the Oireachtas debate on the same subject.
"Israel is destined to suffer in war and in peace. That is the impression I get here," he said.
The Palestinians had not lived up to their commitments under the peace agreement to curb terrorism and provide security so that everybody could live in peace, he said. "He [Yasser Arafat] released a terrorist and on his release hundreds gathered and this terrorist called on them to carry out suicide bombings into Israel."
Asked about the building of a housing development at Har Homah in Jerusalem, which has given rise to the recent protests, he said: "Jerusalem is not part of the agreement. There will be 25,000 housing units for Palestinians in Har Homa. It is not a project only for Jews."
But surely it would be better not to engage in an action bound to create conflict until the future of Jerusalem was on the table? "You can't prevent people from living normally while waiting for peace," replied the ambassador. "A city has to develop. The city is growing. They're in need of housing. You can't wait until the final peace agreement."
Asked about the statements of the mayor of Jerusalem, Mr Ehud Olmert, that there could only be one master in Jerusalem, "and that's us", Mr Gabay said: "We say that Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people. We think it should be the capital of Israel. According to law it is the capital of Israel. Why, out of the blue, should it be a capital for the Palestinians? The Arabs never used Jerusalem as their capital.
"There is freedom of religion and prayer in Jerusalem. There is free movement of people in Jerusalem. Over 250,000 Muslims prayed there last Friday."
Mr Gabay is highly critical of the Palestinian president, Mr Yasser Arafat, who, he said, has not fulfilled his side of the peace agreement by preventing terrorist attacks. Quoting an Irish Times headline "Arafat can't halt slide towards new intifada," he asked: "Why is he the leader if he can't?
"Whenever he feels he is not happy with an action of Israel he says that people are angry. It is a clear message to young people to throw stones."
He did not accept the possibility that the policies being pursued by the Israeli government might contribute to the support for militant groups like Hamas. "Young Palestinians would not be shot if they were not carrying a weapon," he said. "A stone is a weapon. Many Israelis have been killed by stones. The young boy is also a murderer. Here, if a young boy is trying to steal a car, and a policeman comes, you don't shoot him? We are forced to do that.
"What do you do when terrorists are coming to attack you? You retaliate. And you are condemned. The terrorist is not condemned."
Referring to the suicide bombing which last week killed three Israeli women as well as the bomber he asked: "What do you do with the cell which planned such an act? Let them do what they are doing?"
He acknowledged that the Palestinians were generally very poor, and said that Israel wanted them to have a higher standard of living.
The ambassador expressed optimism about the future and the peace process, however. "We have been the most optimistic people in the region," he declared.