Ireland pushes for tougher action against Israel

Ireland, currently presiding over the EU Council, is intensifying pressure on the European Union to adopt a tougher stance on Israel's conduct in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon. The Irish government, known for its critical view of Israeli policies, is leveraging its presidency to advocate for stronger EU action.

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There have been shocking abuses, especially against children, women, and innocent civilians.

Prime Minister Micheál Martin has voiced strong condemnation, stating there have been "shocking abuses, especially against children, women, and innocent civilians." He emphasized that the EU's credibility is at stake and called for concrete proposals for new sanctions and other measures to be presented at the upcoming EU foreign ministers' meeting.

Foreign Minister Helen McEntee echoed these sentiments, highlighting the "humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza" and urging the EU Commission to act. Ireland has already implemented its own sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. However, achieving unanimous EU support for similar measures against Israel remains a significant challenge, given differing national perspectives within the bloc.

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Our credibility is at stake. Ireland has long urged the EU to take stronger action against what is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which can be prevented.

Despite the hurdles, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to present new proposals, particularly concerning Israel's expansion of settlements on the West Bank, which she deemed "extremely unacceptable" and undermining the two-state solution. The Commission is exploring options such as temporarily freezing parts of the EU's trade agreement with Israel and imposing sanctions on specific ministers, though broad consensus is not guaranteed.

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It undermines the future of the two-state solution, which we consider the only viable path to lasting peace. The situation is clearly deteriorating.