The level of violence in Lebanon has escalated in the past two weeks. This culminated in the killing of seven Israeli soldiers and the wounding of several others in a number of different incidents, and in Israeli air attacks against the Lebanese infrastructure causing Lebanese civilian casualties.

The recent developments in the Middle East are of the deepest concern both in relation to UNIFIL and to the Middle East peace process. The General Affairs Council discussed these events on 14 February and reiterated the European Parliament's commitment to exert its maximum efforts and to work with all parties in supporting the Middle East peace process.

The council also recalled the declaration made by the presidency on behalf of the European Union on 9 February in which it expressed deep concern at the escalation of hostilities in Lebanon. The council renewed the appeal to all parties to exercise utmost restraint and refrain from further acts of violence. We hope this appeal will be heeded, not least because of the implications for the safety of UNIFIL troops which the increased level of violence involves.

Prime Minister Barak has repeatedly declared Israel's firm intention of withdrawing its personnel from south Lebanon by July of this year. Agreement on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks of the peace process would facilitate a withdrawal in orderly conditions. It is not clear what the position of the SLA will be at that time when the Lebanese Government will be able to exercise jurisdiction over all its territory.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest sympathy to the families of the four Irish soldiers who lost their lives in Lebanon on Monday and also to convey to the injured my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

This House has already offered its sympathy to the families and loved ones of the four soldiers who tragically lost their lives. I join with the Minister in wishing those who were injured a speedy return to health.

On the declaration by Israel to withdraw its personnel from southern Lebanon by June 2000, does the Minister believe this will happen? For some years I have been asking foreign affairs questions and we could have grown old asking questions about Israeli support for the SLA, which is the nub of the problem and the real reason our troops are regularly in danger.

A line in the Minister's reply which slightly bothered me was when he spoke about the capacity of the Lebanon to exercise full jurisdiction over all its territory. Let us be clear that the Lebanon is entitled to its territory and that the SLA has been the provocateur. Does the Minister agree that we have made no progress in getting Israel to recognise that its support for the SLA is the nub of the problem in southern Lebanon?

I agree Israeli support for the SLA continues to be a problem. In regard to withdrawal from south Lebanon, Prime Minister Barak continues to insist he will withdraw in July. However, recent casualties among Israeli troops in Lebanon have led to increased public pressure for an earlier withdrawal – perhaps as early as April.

The Minister in his reply mentioned the state of the talks and the Syrian-Lebanese component of the agreement. Will he give the opinion of the Department and his colleague, the Minister, on the state of the Syrian-Lebanese discussions and, more particularly, the virtual impasse to which the Palestinian-Israeli talks have come?

With due respect, that is a separate question and I do not have the specific brief on it.

I join with the Minister and Deputy Higgins in expressing the concern and sympathy of Fine Gael on the death of the four young soldiers in the Lebanon. I would like to take the opportunity to express the hope that we will honour almost 80 people who have died while on service abroad. These particular soldiers did not die in combat but they would not have died had they not been there on a peacekeeping mission. I hope we will honour them by erecting a suitable memorial on Leinster lawn. It is time they were remembered and I hope the Minister will communicate that idea to the Government. I understand there may be cross-party support for that and I would like to see it done.

Does the Minister agree there appear to be efforts to delay the Palestinian track of the Middle East peace process until after the US presidential election and that, strange as it may have seemed some months ago, the Syrian track and, therefore, the Lebanese element of that track will probably move ahead much more speedily? Does the Minister have any information on that? Is there any attempt to delay the Palestinian talks until after the US elections in November?

I will leave the answer to that question and Deputy Higgins's question until I reply to Question No. 20 which deals more specifically with the Middle East peace process.