Taoiseach says Europe's inability to put pressure on Israel 'incomprehensible'
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that it is 'incomprehensible that Europe does not seem to be in a position to put pressure and leverage on Israel to stop this war in Gaza'.
He also suggested that Europe needed to follow other countries' steps to sanction individual ministers, noting that the UK, Norway and Canada had further sanctions against settlers in the West Bank and against Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
He made the comments ahead of an EU Council Meeting in Brussels on Thursday, where it was expected that some countries would block Ireland's attempts to sanction Israel.
Mr Martin said that there must be European action to try and stop the war.
He said: 'The people of Europe find it incomprehensible that Europe does not seem to be in a position to put pressure on Israel and leverage on Israel to stop this war in Gaza, to stop the continuing slaughter of children and innocent civilians.
'The war must stop. There must be a humanitarian response and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, an end to the blockade.
'I understand there are historical reasons why some member states have a particular perspective on this, in terms of the Middle East issue.
'But from a humanitarian perspective, it is incomprehensible what is going on, what continues to go on and Europe needs to really articulate that in the strongest possible way. We will be seeking to pursue mechanisms to ensure that this war stops and that humanitarian aid gets in urgently to Gaza.'
Mr Martin said he will call on his counterparts to consider the EU-Israel Association Agreement and any further actions that can be taken against Israel.
A review of the agreement found indications that Israel had breached human rights obligations contained within the deal.
Benjamin Neyenyahu's Government has criticised the Government, with the Taoiseach criticising this in turn.
He said: 'Israel needs to stop denouncing every report that comes out using objective criteria to describe the situation in Gaza.
'It's not an outrage, the review. The review, in some respects, is quite, some could argue, a modest document that seeks to objectively present the facts in relation to Gaza, but it avoids emotional language and so on like that.
'I think that that kind of tactic and pattern of undermining those who would even question what's happening in Gaza, that also has to stop. I passionately believe in the reassertion of the United Nations within the Middle East, the primacy of UN agencies.
'The European Union has an association agreement with Israel. Israel should respect all clauses of that agreement, including the Human Rights clauses.
'There are differences of opinion across the European Union table. I acknowledge that.
'But I think there are other areas, for example, the United Kingdom, Norway and other countries, Canada, have now issued further sanctions against settlers in the West Bank and against Israeli ministers, Minister Ben-Gvir and Minister Smotrich.
'These are issues that the European Union should look at, as well as the Association Agreement and aspects of the Association Agreement.'
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