Ireland will recognise Palestinian state if peace talks falter

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has made it clear that Ireland is committed to recognising a Palestinian state as part of a peace process. However, if negotiations between Palestine and Israel continue to prove fruitless “we may have to forget the second part of that.” He suggested that other European countries could do the same. His comments were during a joint press conference with Palestinian National Authority foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki. The Palestinian delegation visiting the Irish capital of Dublin this weekend, included the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. They have also met Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and President Michael D Higgins.

The Irish Foreign Affairs Minister also said: “We have an occupation of the Palestinian territories. And while that occupation is taking place we are seeing an expansion of Israeli settlements on to Palestinian lands. In our view that is illegal.” He also noted the continued demolition of Palestinian homes by Israeli forces, including the planned destruction of the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank. Since March more than 170 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces during clashes in the region. Ireland is also committed to increasing funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees from €4.5 million to €7 million this year. The Irish Foreign Affairs minister said that the Irish Government is considering hosting a meeting in Ireland between leaders of Arab and European countries and Palestinian representatives in a bid to restart the stalled peace process.