On Thursday, EU leaders gathered in Brussels to discuss migration, competitiveness, the war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Taoiseach said while there was a need for a ceasefire and a two-state solution, he said there was no evidence that Israel was listening. He asked those gathered for the council meeting what more had to happen for Israel to listen.
It is understood that while there were differing stances in terms of support for Israel in the room, that there was a growing acceptance amongst leaders that Israel’s attitude was becoming more and more unacceptable.
During the discussion on the Middle East, the Taoiseach acknowledged that both Hamas and Hezbollah were terrorist organisations.
However, while Israel has the right to self defence, the Taoiseach said, this had to be done in accordance with international law. Mr Harris pointed to both Ireland’s and the ICJ’s opinion that this was not the case.
The distribution of aid in Gaza was also a focus of discussion for leaders, with reports that there was outrage in the room over the challenge to access and distribution of aid in the region.
As the humanitarian crisis worsens, the Taoiseach also noted the difficulty that faced the UN’s World Food Programme in getting food aid into Gaza.
While member states have differing views on the conflict in the region, the Taoiseach said it was agreed that the goal was a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, an end to violence and a two-state solution.
Mr Harris said leaders had to ask themselves what they could do to achieve this. The Taoiseach also outlined to leaders that the safety of UNIFIL peacekeepers was paramount and raised the issue of the EU-Israel association agreement, specifically a public policy clause that he suggested could be relevant.
The council meeting has also focused on the ongoing challenge of migration in the EU, with leaders holding lengthy discussions on the situation that faced their countries.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented his “victory plan” to the council and called on leaders to issue an immediate invitation to Ukraine to join Nato.
EU leaders have also agreed to ask the European Commission to draft legislation to speed up the return of migrants as a matter of urgency.
“Ireland wants to see governments getting to grip when it comes to the migration issue,” Taoiseach Simon Harris said.
“The European borders and how the European Union operates in relation to migration has a direct impact obviously on migration in Ireland. That is why the [EU Migration] Pact is essential and why Ireland is moving to introduce legislation as soon as possible,” the Taoiseach added.
