Ireland's new prime minister will meet the Spanish premier to discuss their joint plan to recognize Palestine as a nation state and their attempts to force the EU to assess Israel's human rights obligations as a condition of their trade deal with the bloc, the Guardian reports.
Pedro Sanchez, who is expected to arrive in Dublin today, is the first foreign prime minister Simon Harris will meet since his elevation to the post of Taoiseach ( Prime Minister of Ireland) this week.
In the months since the 7 October Hamas attacks and the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Spain and Ireland have emerged as the most pro-Palestinian EU member states.
Harris said in Brussels that in a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen he had made clear Ireland's position on the need for an immediate ceasefire. He also reiterated the formal request, made with Spain two months ago, to review the Association Agreement between Israel and the EU.
"I believe the European Union must use all the levers at its disposal [to protect the Palestinian people]," Harris said.
His remarks came at a time when he has come under sharp criticism from Israel for not mentioning the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza during his debut speech to the Irish parliament as a Taoiseach.
Harris - who was sworn in on 9 April - spoke of Hamas' "inexcusable terrorist actions on 7 October" as well as the Israeli government's "disproportionate response".
But in a statement released April 11, the Israeli Foreign Ministry criticized him for failing to mention the hostages still being held by Hamas.
It said Ireland also "plans to hand further rewards to terrorism" by intervening in the case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, in which it accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, and by "possibly recognizing a Palestinian state in the future".
"In the wake of the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust in Ireland, there are those who stubbornly insist on being on the wrong side of history," the statement added, alluding to the Hamas attacks in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Since then, Israel's military offensive has killed more than 33,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, and created an acute humanitarian crisis.
Ireland and Spain have written to the head of the European Commission requesting an 'urgent review' of Israel's compliance with its human rights obligations.
Harris said Sanchez was a welcome guest in Dublin. "He will be the first head of government I will welcome into government buildings and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss with Pedro the issue of recognition of the state of Palestine and wider issues including this letter," he said.
Von der Leyen indicated that there was an opportunity at the next EU foreign ministers' summit "to discuss and address these issues," Harris said.
"It's not about anything other than ensuring that international human rights law is respected. And that it is respected," he said. / BGNES
