Ireland Unwaveringly Supports Palestine: PM Harris
A show of Irish solidarity with the Palestinian people, Dec. 2024. X/ @OnlinePalEng
December 24, 2024 Hour: 8:46 am
He also emphasized that Ireland will continue to use its influence in all international forums to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
On Monday, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to express Ireland’s “unwavering” support for the Palestinian cause. The Christian Democrat politician also emphasized that Ireland will continue to use its influence in all international forums to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza
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“While speaking with President Abbas, my foremost thought was the heartbreaking milestone of over 45,000 deaths reached earlier this month, nearly 15,000 of whom were innocent children,” Harris stated.
The two leaders discussed the humanitarian tragedy affecting the Palestinian people after more than a year of offensive actions by Israeli occupation forces against Gaza. They also addressed Ireland’s stance on the matter and the tensions this has generated with Israel.
Relations with Tel Aviv have deteriorated, culminating this month in the announcement of the closure of the Israeli embassy in Dublin by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who also accused Harris and his coalition government, which includes centrists and greens, of antisemitism. Israel had already withdrawn its ambassador from Dublin in May, following the joint recognition of Palestine as a state by Ireland, Spain, and Norway.
President Abbas also highlighted the recent credential presentation ceremony of Palestinian Ambassador Jilan Abdaljamid to Irish President Michael D. Higgins, describing it as a “great honor.”
“There were those who criticized our decision to recognize Palestine, but I firmly stand by the words I said that day in May: ‘There is never a wrong time to do the right thing’,” Harris remarked.
The Irish Prime Minister expressed hope that more countries will follow suit, stating that this recognition “has taken nothing away from Israel” in the past few months. He noted that during this time, he has spoken and met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on “several occasions.”
“Despite the humanitarian catastrophe and the unimaginable loss of lives in 2024, the global community’s goal in 2025 will be to achieve peace through a two-state solution,” Harris insisted, adding that Ireland calls for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and the free movement of humanitarian aid.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
