Ireland facing backlash in US over Gaza stance, says President Higgins
The Taoiseach and the President have warned of an international propaganda campaign against Ireland because of the Government's criticism of Israel's bombardment of Palestinians.
Micheál Martin has called out Israeli 'propaganda' that implies the people of Ireland support Hamas and accused Israel of twisting the Irish position of recognising Palestine and our support of the International Court of Justice case against Israel.
Earlier, President Michael D Higgins said there is an active campaign against Ireland in the US.
Mr Higgins said it is 'a disgrace and a slander' to suggest that criticism of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies is somehow antisemitic.
'That is a disgrace and a slander and has been a slander against Ireland, against individuals, including myself,' he said.
'The idea that propaganda can pay against Ireland is now active in the United States so that when we are seeking to have meetings with people who are investing in Ireland, they are being contacted in advance with a suggestion of saying: 'You must open with, why is Ireland so against the US position in Israel?'.'
Mr Martin agreed that there are attempts to 'smear Ireland' and that Mr Higgins had been a focus of some of this, which he described as 'regrettable'.
The Taoiseach stressed that he and the Government had consistently condemned Hamas, but said the Irish people 'are sickened by the barbarity and the scale of what is happening' with Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Mr Martin also warned there was 'some distance' to go before an EU majority supports a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, but that a recent EU move to review the agreement was not something he would have anticipated six months ago.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin (left) with Nessa Doran O'Reilly (right), the Furniture Program Manager at the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, on the opening day of the annual Bloom festival at Phoenix Park in Dublin. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Shortly after the Taoiseach's comments, it was confirmed that several shots were fired in an area near where Irish peacekeeping troops are serving in southern Lebanon, near Israel's blue line.
None of the Irish personnel, who were recently deployed as part of the UN operation, were injured in the incident.
In a statement, the Defence Forces said a number of rounds were fired in the vicinity of the area where the patrol was operating.
'The patrol withdrew from the area, there were no injuries to the personnel on the patrol and no damage reported to the armoured vehicles they were operating from,' the statement said.
'All personnel of the Irish contingent in Lebanon are reported to be safe and well, they continue to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon and are committed to the stability of the region as impartial peacekeepers.
'We wish to remind all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers.'
Yesterday, Israel said it will establish 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank — including the legalisation of outposts already built without government authorisation — after a security cabinet vote held in secret last week.
Israel occupied the West Bank, capturing it from Jordan, in the six-day war of 1967. Since then, successive Israeli governments have tried to permanently cement control over the land, in part by declaring swathes as 'state lands', which prevents private Palestinian ownership.
Meanwhile, the White House said Israel 'backed and supported' a new peace proposal, which Hamas continues to evaluate. The proposal was intended to return surviving as well as dead hostages still being held in Gaza in exchange for an extended truce in fighting.
Hamas has said it had agreed with US president Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, on a 'general framework' of an agreement that would lead to a lasting ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an influx of aid, and a transfer of power from the militant group to a politically independent committee of Palestinians.
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