Ireland must vote at UN against actions of US Government in Israel

Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin has said the Irish Government must immediately make clear that they will vote to condemn at the UN the provocative decision of the US President, Donald Trump, to relocate the US Embassy to Israel, to Jerusalem.

Deputy Howlin said:

“As I made clear at the time, and as has unfortunately been borne out by subsequent events, the decision of Donald Trump to move the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem was a provocative act that damaged rather than strengthened the long term peace of the State of Israel and all the people of the region – Arab and Jewish.

“Those of us who support the right of the Jewish people to their homeland, and the equal right of the Palestinian people to their own state, view this act by Trump as a further step on the road away from a two state solution. Such a solution remains the only viable template upon which a peaceful Israel and Palestine can coexist.

“Minister Coveney must ensure that this view, which I believe is widely held across a wide spectrum of opinion in Ireland, is made clear at the United Nations.

“As I said at the time of this decision, sometimes the greatest act of a friend is to speak unpalatable truths.

“Ireland has long been a close friend of the United States and as such should make clear our opposition to the provocation of the current US administration without equivocation.

“Minister Coveney should also make it clear that Ireland continues to support a two state solution and that the resolution of the future status of Jerusalem can only come about as part of those overall negotiations.

“Reports of US diplomats linking votes at the UN on this matter to future aid is deeply disturbing.

“Surely Ireland is above such threats and will stand up clearly for what is right.”