The Irish Government’s push to officially recognise the State of Palestine is ‘rewarding terrorism’, Israel’s Ambassador to Ireland has claimed.

The Taoiseach Simon Harris is today meeting with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez at Government Buildings to discuss the two country's efforts to recognise the State of Palestine.

It comes after he yesterday made clear Ireland’s position on the need for an immediate ceasefire in a meeting with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels.

Mr Harris has also made it clear that he intends to try and coordinate a move among EU states to recognise a Palestinian State.

On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Israeli Ambassador Dana Erlich said Israel does not believe now is the “right time for such recognition”.

“We ask why reward terrorism?” she said.

“This is giving a very dangerous signal to Hamas and other terror organisations, but also my question is, what are they going to recognise?

“Is it going to be a three-state solution? Who will control Gaza? Because right now the Palestinian Authority and Hamas are rivals.

“They are killing each other. Hamas just killed Palestinian Authority employees in Gaza trying to bring aid, so they're not talking between themselves.

“Who will govern? What state will that be? This is not the time to do that. This will not help the Palestinian people.”

In the Dáil earlier this week, the Tánaiste Micheal Martin confirmed that Government was working with other nations on a “joint formal recognition of Palestinian statehood”.

Minister Martin said he believes the move could be a “catalyst to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank and in furthering an Arab-led peace initiative”.

Palestinian State

Ambassador Erlich said the Government has not given her embassy details of its plan to recognise the Palestinian state.

“They have not shared it yet,” she said. “We are in ongoing conversations; it's part of our diplomatic open channels that we maintain.

“My question is what will it look like and why now?

“Especially because we do not think that it will benefit the Palestinian people.

“Any enforced solution from a third party will not be helpful and I know that a lot of people here draw comparisons with the situation in Ireland.

“Just imagine if the international community would have enforced a solution on you.”

Meetings

The Taoiseach’s meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister is the pair’s second in a week.

Speaking after their meeting in Warsaw yesterday, Simon Harris said an EU-wide approach to recognising Palestine was unlikely.

He said Ireland would move forward with the plan with the support of Spain and an unnamed number of other countries.

Ireland and Spain have also asked the European Union to review whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations in Gaza.

Mr Harris also raised the issue with President von der Leyen yesterday.

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