Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin today stressed Ireland was not anti-Israel in its stance on the Middle East but insisted the Gaza crisis was hindering attempts to broker peace.
On the eve of his historic first visit to the war-ravaged territory, Mr Martin said Ireland’s view of the situation was fair, objective and should not be perceived as a threat.
Israeli authorities refused Mr Martin entry to the strip late last year amid fears his visit would be used to legitimise the Islamic Hamas administration in Gaza.
While insisting no EU minister would meet Hamas, Mr Martin said Israeli policies including the blockade were nurturing extremism and fundamentalism.
“Industrial estates were levelled, civilians were killed, women and children were killed [in the Gaza offensive],” Mr Martin said. “In my view there was no justification for that level and scale of violence, and the continuing blockade is not acceptable either.
“All of that in my view just nurtures the fundamentalists and extremists and actually undermines the voice of moderation.”
But the Minister stressed Ireland’s position did not pose a threat to any country in the region. He said EU ministers would not meet with Hamas until it recognises Israel’s right to exist. “We’ve taken a position on the Middle Eastern peace process which we believe is a fair one, and an honest assessment and objective,” Mr Martin said. “We’re not anti-Israel. We have very a clear position in terms of how the peace process should be advanced.”
Mr Martin will become the first EU foreign minister to gain access to Gaza since his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt visited last February. British, French, Turkish and Belgium delegations have all been excluded from entering in recent months.
Mr Martin said he told his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman during talks in Brussels earlier this week of the Gaza visit, claiming he gave no reaction.
The Minister arrived in Cairo yesterday for a three-day trip to the region and has held meetings with the head of the Arab League Amr Moussa and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.
Jump-starting the Mideast peace negotiations, stalled since the Gaza offensive, and the situation in the Gaza Strip were set to dominate the talks.
Mr Martin’s delegation will meet Irishman John Ging, head of the United Nations operation in the Gaza strip. The Minister will visit a UN food distribution centre, meet with businessmen to discuss the impact of the Israeli blockade and hold talks with Palestinian human rights activists.
Almost 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed in the 22-day Gaza War. Around 20,000 people remain displaced as a result of the conflict, with 70 per cent of the 1.5 million-strong population classed as refugees.
PA