‘It’s kind of pitiful’ – Simon Harris criticises Netanyahu following first phone call with President Joe Biden
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to Ireland’s recognition of the state of Palestine is “pitiful”.
Netanyahu’s office announced plans today to “strengthen” settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying the move comes “in response to the countries that unilaterally recognised a Palestinian state after 7 October”.
Ireland recognised a Palestinian state last month alongside Spain and Norway.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Mr Harris said: “It's kind of pitiful, isn't it? I mean, the reality of the situation is, there have been illegal settlements in the West Bank now for a very significant period of time.”
He said the three countries opted to recognise the state of Palestine because they believe in a two-state solution in the region.
“We want the Palestinian people and the Israeli people to be able to live side by side in peace and security. And I believe there's many people in both Palestine and Israel who want that for themselves, and their children, and their grandchildren,” he said.
"Anything else from Netanyahu is simply a distraction. It is noise, what it doesn't do is help in any manner or means end the war, end the humanitarian catastrophe.”
Mr Harris said the three priorities at an EU level are an immediate ceasefire, a “monumental increase” in the level of humanitarian aid in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach and US President Joe Biden have discussed Gaza and Ukraine on their first phone call since Mr Harris took office.
President Biden set up the call to congratulate the Fine Gael TD on taking over as Taoiseach.
The two leaders spoke about power-sharing in Northern Ireland, the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and the ongoing work of the US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joe Kennedy.
A note on the meeting said they also discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the need for an immediate ceasefire, for all hostages to be released and for aid to flow freely.
The Taoiseach briefed President Biden on the Ukraine Peace Summit held in Switzerland over the weekend. He met with US Vice President Kamala Harris during that event.
President Biden told the Taoiseach the United States would continue to support Ukraine and the world must stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
Mr Harris and President Biden discussed the deep and growing economic ties between Ireland and the United States.
The Taoiseach also thanked the President for his enduring friendship to Ireland.
President Biden is now into an election race with former President Donald Trump.
It remains very unclear who is likely to be president when a Taoiseach visits the White House next March for St Patrick’s Day.
And indeed with speculation mounting of an autumn election here it remains uncertain whether Mr Harris will be making that journey.
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