McEntee says EU response to Israel falls short: “We are failing”

Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has delivered a blunt assessment of the European Union’s handling of the Israeli government’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, saying the bloc’s credibility “is gone” unless it moves together and with force.

Speaking in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly this week, Ms McEntee argued that only a united EU response can carry real weight.

“We need to act collectively. We are failing here, to be quite honest.

“Our credibility is gone on this issue and if we don’t act collectively then the decisions of the Israeli government will not change,” she said.

The minister said her priority is to see sanctions on Israeli goods and services advanced across the EU, rather than through isolated national measures.

She noted that Irish legislation banning the importation of Israeli goods from occupied Palestinian territories came into effect this week, and said the move has already encouraged — and will continue to encourage — other countries to pursue similar laws.

“While we’ve made decisions, we’ve recognised Palestine, more countries have done that, we’ve implemented our own legislation, other countries are talking about doing the same, we’ve put sanctions on individuals, it’s not enough.

“We need to be responding more effectively and more collectively.

“For that legislation to have an impact, it needs to be done on an EU-wide basis.”

Ms McEntee said Ireland’s position is unequivocal: Israel is breaching international law.

“We are seeing an attempt to erase a population,” she added.

‘Important to take a stance on overall values’

Turning to the upcoming international football fixtures between Ireland and Israel, the minister said the decision to watch is for individuals to make.

Ms McEntee said that while sport has often been viewed as a unifying force, moments like this also demand clarity about wider values and goals.

She said it is “very clear” that the Government does not support the Israeli government and their actions.

“Everything that we are doing is to try and make sure that we are taking a position that will affect change within the Israeli government.

“Whether people wish to watch the games or not, that is certainly a matter for them.

“But what you can be assured of is that the Government will be focused on how can we take more concrete actions to support people on the ground in Gaza, to support people in the West Bank.”

Additional reporting: Conor Hunt