Support grows for recognition of Palestine

• Published date: 12 April 2024
• Author: JACK POWER,HARRY McGEE , MARIE O’HALLORAN
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

HARRY McGEE and MARIE O’HALLORAN

Ireland is working with Spain and a number of other countries to build support for the formal recognition of the state of Palestine, with Taoiseach Simon Harris saying it was “highly likely” more countries in Europe would back the move.

The new Fine Gael leader discussed Ireland’s plans to recognise Palestine in a meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels yesterday.

Mr Harris was also expected to discuss the proposals with Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez at the sidelines of an informal dinner he attended in Warsaw with a number of EU leaders yesterday evening.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Harris said it was “highly likely” more countries would follow Ireland and Spain in planning to recognise the state of Palestine. There was a “very clear view emerging” among European leaders that there needed to be “an immediate cessation of violence” in Gaza.

The introductory meeting with Dr von der Leyen, which was described as “very friendly” by a commission source, also discussed EU-wide reforms of the asylum system.

Mr Harris said Ireland would opt in to all of the measures in the recently approved migration pact, which he said would create a “firmer” asylum system. The reforms will lead to quicker decisions being made on asylum cases and deportations of unsuccessful applicants.

In a series of engagements ahead of a summit of EU leaders next week, Mr Harris discussed the war in Gaza, as well as the priorities of the European bloc for the coming years.

During his meeting with Dr von der Leyen, Mr Harris said he outlined the Government’s view that there needed to be an immediate halt to Israel’s war in Gaza, which started following attacks by Hamas militants on October 7th.

Mr Harris said he did not believe the EU would take a united...