Irish PM urges EU partners to 'do more' to pressure Israel

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin implored European Union partners to intensify pressure on Israel regarding its conduct in Gaza and the West Bank, asserting that the bloc has fallen short of adequately addressing the situation.

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A many in Europe nous provoque une profonde et justifiée tristesse et colère que l'Europe n'ait pas fait assez pour faire pression sur Israël à la lumière de ses actions scandaleuses.

Speaking before the European Parliament, Martin expressed that many in Europe feel a "deep and justified sadness and anger" that the EU has not done enough to pressure Israel in light of its "scandalous actions." He acknowledged the complexity of the issue for many member states and the strain it places on long-standing political connections but stressed, "We simply must do more."

Martin described the actions of the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu as "increasingly extreme." He emphasized that "no democratic or humanitarian values are flexible enough to justify the scale of death, destruction, and displacement" witnessed in Palestine. He was presenting Ireland's priorities as it began its six-month presidency of the EU Council on July 1.

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I respect and understand that it is a complicated issue for many countries and that it is testing long-established connections and policies. But we simply must do more.

Several EU member states have called for sanctions against Israel, ranging from suspending the association agreement to banning products from illegal Israeli settlements. Ireland, Spain, and Norway jointly recognized Palestine as a state in May 2024, a move that has put them at odds with some EU partners who are hesitant to take such steps.

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no democratic or humanitarian values are flexible enough to justify the scale of death, destruction and displacement