The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a stark warning to the Irish Prime Minister, Simon Harris, on Thursday, cautioning him about the risk of being "on the wrong side of history."
Taoiseach Simon Harris gestures after receiving a majority parliamentary vote to become the next Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, in Dublin, April 9, 2024. Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a stark warning to the Irish Prime Minister, Simon Harris, on Thursday, cautioning him about the risk of being "on the wrong side of history."
The warning particularly focused on Harris's failure to mention the hostages held captive in Gaza in his recent inauguration speech before the Parliament.
In a statement, the ministry criticized Harris for his omission, noting that he "forgot to mention" the hostages, highlighting a significant concern in the context of his speech.
Additionally, the Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the new Prime Minister and his Foreign Minister, Micheal Martin, of "planning to award further prizes to terrorism." This accusation stems from their expressed willingness to recognize a Palestinian state, a move Israel views with significant apprehension.
The ministry's statement underscored its belief that "some in Ireland continue to be on the wrong side of history," referencing the country's stance towards the conflict in Gaza. Ireland, known as one of the most pro-Palestinian countries in Europe, has maintained its position on the Gaza war, which erupted on October 7th following an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israeli soil.
Simon Harris, the former Minister for Higher Education from a centrist-right party, reaffirmed Ireland's stance in his speech on Tuesday.
His comments have now drawn criticism from Israel, which is concerned about Ireland's approach to the conflict and the potential recognition of a Palestinian state.
An apparent drone attack - claimed by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia - hit central Tel Aviv in the early hours of Friday, killing one man and slightly wounding four others, the Israeli military and emergency services said.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told his U.S. counterpart that military operations in the Gaza Strip have created conditions that would enable a hostage deal to be reached, Gallant's office said on Wednesday.
A meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the Middle East was briefly interrupted on Wednesday when two protesters stood with signs and yelled for the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.