Ireland–Palestine relations

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Ireland–Palestine relations
Map indicating locations of Ireland and Palestine

Ireland
Palestine
Diplomatic mission
Mission of Palestine, DublinRepresentative Office of Ireland, Ramallah

Ireland–Palestine relations are the bilateral and historical relations between Ireland and the State of Palestine.[1] In 2000, Ireland established a representative office in Ramallah and Palestine has a representative office in Dublin.[2] Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

History

By the late 1960s, Ireland was increasingly concerned about the fate of Palestinian refugees who fled the Six-Day War in 1967. In 1969, Irish Foreign Minister Frank Aiken described the problem as the "main and most pressing objective" of Ireland's Middle East policy.[3] In 2024, Jane Ohlmeyer, a history professor at Trinity College Dublin, said: "There can be a tendency — and we see this, for example, in the street murals in Belfast — to see the conflict through the prism of Northern Ireland, where republican nationalists sympathize with Palestine and loyalists, unionists with Israel".[4]

In 1980, Ireland was the first European Union member state to endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state.[5]

In 1999 Taoiseach Bertie Ahern went on a two-day trip to Gaza where he met with Yasser Arafat and visited the Jabaliya refugee camp. He became the first leader of a nation to fly from Palestine to their home country.[6] In September 2001 Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen travelled to Gaza and met with Arafat.[7]

In January 2011, Ireland accorded the Palestinian delegation in Dublin diplomatic status.[8] A few months later, their Foreign Affairs Minister stated that Ireland would "lead the charge" in recognizing Palestinian statehood, but that it would not come until the PNA was in full and sole control over its territories.[9] In October 2014, the Upper House of the Irish Parliament unanimously passed a motion calling on the Government to recognize the State of Palestine.[10] In December 2014, the Lower House of Ireland's Parliament followed suit.[11] However, the government said it would recognize Palestine only as part of a broader EU initiative.[12]

On 26 May 2021, following increased violence in the West Bank and Gaza, the Dáil condemned Israel's 'de facto annexation' of Palestine as illegal.[13]

On 22 May 2024, amid increasing international criticism of Israel's actions in the Israel–Hamas war, the Irish Government announced that it recognised the state of Palestine, in a coordinated action with the governments of Norway and Spain. The move was criticised by Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz who announced the withdrawal of the Israeli Ambassador, Dana Erlich.[14]

With America being seen as a staunch ally of Israel in the Israel–Hamas war, the then Irish Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, had acknowledged a "differences of opinions in relation [between the US and Ireland] to Israel and Gaza", particularly regarding the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Palestinian-Irish Relations". Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Palestinian-Irish Relations - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". www.dfa.ie. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  3. ^ Ferriter, Diarmaid. "Time for Ireland to recognise Palestine". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  4. ^ Baker, Peter; Kanno-Youngs, Zolan (14 March 2024). "As Irish Leader Visits U.S., Shamrock Camaraderie Is Strained by Gaza War". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Why the Irish Support Palestine". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  6. ^ Casey, Ruairi (7 June 2021). "What's behind Ireland's support for Palestine?". Al Jazeera.
  7. ^ "Cowen, Arafat send sympathy to American people". 11 September 2001.
  8. ^ Jones, Ryan (26 January 2011). "Europe starts process of recognizing Palestine". Israel Today. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Gilmore 'hopes to recognise full Palestinian state'". The Journal. 22 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  10. ^ "Senators have agreed to recognise Palestine as an independent state". The Journal. Distilled Media Ltd. 22 October 2014. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  11. ^ Ariel, Ben (10 December 2014). "Irish Parliament Urges Government to Recognize 'Palestine'". Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  12. ^ O'Halloran, Marie (20 May 2021). "TDs asked 'do we want to be on right side of history?'". The Irish Times.
  13. ^ "Ireland condemns Israel's 'de facto annexation' of Palestine". Al Jazeera. 26 May 2021.
  14. ^ Israel furious as three countries recognise Palestinian state
  15. ^ McGee, Harry; Duggan, Keith (14 March 2024). "Taoiseach insists he will not dilute Government's criticism of Israel during US trip". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 March 2024.


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