The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, has condemned yesterday's suicide bombings in Tel Aviv but warned that Israel should "exercise restraint" in its response.
In a statement Mr Cowen said the attacks "undermine the already fragile prospects for peace and in no way serve the cause of the Palestinian people".
"It is more than ever clear that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians can have no military solution and that only dialogue and negotiations, pursued sincerely, can offer any hope of peace and justice".
The Minister reiterated his call on the Palestinian Authority to take whatever measures remained within their power to prevent further such acts and to bring the planners of such attacks to justice.
But he also called on the Israeli authorities to "exercise restraint in reacting to this latest terrorist outrage and to avoid any act which might further damage the prospects for lasting peace and reconciliation".
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