Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney said the Israeli ambassador’s comments accusing the president of disinformation were not helpful, reports Breaking News.
Dana Ehrlich told the Sunday Independent over the weekend that she was disappointed by what she called “misinformation” shared by President Michael D. Higgins about whether Israel had violated international law.
Ms. Ehrlich also said that Ireland is not a neutral country in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
Asked about the comments on Monday, Mr Coveney, who is a former minister for foreign affairs, told RTÉ radio: “I don’t think that’s helpful. President Michael D Higgins is somebody who for many years has taken an interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” reports Breaking News.
“He, like many others in Ireland, is deeply concerned about what is currently unfolding in Gaza. I don’t think it’s helpful when an ambassador starts to make pointed comments in relation to our President. I think Michael D Higgins has reflected the view of many in Ireland. The Government’s position on this is that we unreservedly condemn the atrocity that Hamas is responsible for in terms of the killing of 1,400 innocent Israelis,” reports Breaking News.
“But we are also deeply concerned about what continues to unfold in terms of human suffering in Gaza. We want a ceasefire, and we want humanitarian aid corridors open, and Ireland will continue to advocate for that at a European level and at a UN level,” he added, reports Breaking News.
Foreign Secretary Michael Martin spoke from Luxembourg, where EU foreign affairs leaders are meeting to discuss tensions in the Middle East, the invasion of Ukraine and Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“I think over the last week or so we have witnessed the emergence of a more coherent and unified European Union response, and I think that will continue, hopefully today and into the leaders’ council at the end of the week,” he said, reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.