Ireland will give every assistance possible to the Palestinian Authority to help it create a viable State, according to Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the Minister said it was essential the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would leave the region economically viable.
"If this does not happen then we'd have to put additional pressure on both sides. Working in conjunction with the EU, Ireland will be very strong on this," he said.
Mr Ahern said that it was decided at the Gleneagles summit that the G8 would provide financial support for the Middle East peace process and that Ireland would also contribute aid. The State constantly encourages its EU partners to push for extra financial aid for the Palestinian Authority, he added.
High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana is due to travel to the Middle East on August 28th to meet both Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
The European Union is a member - with Russia, the United States and the United Nations - of the quartet promoting Middle East peace, and has been supportive of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the northern West Bank.
"Ireland, in common with its EU partners, has always been ready to support disengagement as a step toward the full implementation of the Quartet Roadmap," Mr Ahern said today.