Minister Ahern condemns suicide bomb attack in Israel

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, who will travel to the Middle East tomorrow, has strongly condemned the suicide bomb attack in the Israeli town of Eilat, in which three people were killed this morning.

The Minister stated:

“I am horrified by the news of the suicide bombing in Eilat this morning, in which three people have been killed.  I condemn this latest attack without reservation and offer my sincerest condolences to the families of the bereaved.  I also condemn the terrible violence in recent days in Gaza and the West Bank in which innocent Palestinian civilians have been killed during clashes between armed Palestinian groups. 

These latest killings confirm yet again that the only way forward for the Israeli and the Palestinian people is an urgent return to a credible political process for a negotiated two-State solution.  This is the message I will highlight in my meetings over the coming days with political leaders in Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon”.

ENDS++

29 January 2007