Minister of State Kathleen Lynch T.D. visits the occupied Palestinian territories

Kathleen Lynch T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Primary Care, Social Care (Disabilities and Older People) and Mental Health, visited Ramallah, the Old City of Jerusalem and Bethlehem in early July.

 The Minister gave a keynote speech at a Disabilities conference in Tel Aviv and took this opportunity to arrange additional engagements.

The Minister broke the fast of Ramadan at an Iftar in Ramallah with representatives of disability civil society groups and service providers. The event, hosted by Ireland's Representative in Ramallah, Martina Feeney, gave the participants an opportunity to learn from stories of success and challenges in an informal atmosphere.

The Minister toured key sites of the Old City of Jerusalem, gaining an understanding of this culturally important and complex shared space; Al Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

In nearby Bethlehem, the Minister met with the Mayor of Bethlehem, Vera Baboun. This formal visit was followed by a brief tour of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem.