THE PALESTINIAN FLAG has been raised outside Leinster House as Ireland formally recognises the State of Palestine.
At a Cabinet meeting, the Government officially decided that it recognises Palestine as a sovereign and independent state and agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said that the decision “is about keeping hope alive”.
“It is about believing that a two-state solution is the only way for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and security,” he said today.
“We had wanted to recognise Palestine at the end of a peace process however we have made this move alongside Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive. I again call on Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza.”
The flag can be seen from the Merrion Square entrance to the parliament and flies alongside the European Union flag and the Ukrainian flag.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin brought plans to Cabinet this morning for approval to recognise the state.
The move, announced by Taoiseach Simon Harris last week, will see full diplomatic relations established between the two states.
It is understood that while statements will be heard in the Dáil on the matter this afternoon, credentials for ambassadors will happen at a later date.
As part of the formal recognition of Palestine, the Palestinian Mission in Ireland will be upgraded to an embassy, subject to a formal request from the Palestinian authorities.
An Ambassador to Ireland from the State of Palestine will also be appointed, subject to a formal request.
Meanwhile, the current representative office of Ireland in Ramallah will also be upgraded to an embassy and the current Irish Representative to Palestine will be changed to the Irish Ambassador to the State of Palestine.
Dual use goods
Taoiseach Simon Harris told the Dáil today that he has “no knowledge” of any Irish exported technology being used by Israel as part of its assault on Gaza.
He was asked the question by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy who wanted to know if any technology exported from Ireland is being used by Israel in its war on Gaza.
“Because we know that more than €70m worth of goods were exported from Ireland, technology which can have a dual use which can be used by the military…We know that since the 7th of October €32 million already has been exported.
“You said earlier it’s not enough to condemn there needs to be action. Can you at the very, very, very least stop the issuing of export license for dual use goods to Israel?,” Murphy asked.
The Taoiseach responded: “I have no knowledge in relation to that. But we are acting as a government, taking practical actions on a constant basis to support humanitarian aid, to try and bring about peace and a ceasefire, to recognise the state of Palestine, to work at a European level in relation to the association agreement and to recognise that the best way for peace for both Israel and Palestine is a two state solution.”
Palestinian flag
As reported last week, the Palestinian flag has been raised at Leinster House this morning.
People Before Profit had been requesting that the flag be flown over Leinster House for a number of months now.
Earlier this month, TD Bríd Smith unfurled the flag on the grounds of the complex to commemorate Nakba Day.
This was despite refusals from Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl to fly the flag.
The move comes after Ireland, Norway and Spain announced last week that they are unilaterally recognising the State of Palestine.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said at the time that the Palestinian people deserve a future of peace and hope rather than suffering. He added that the people of Israel deserve the same.
Diplomatic sources have stressed that Ireland’s move recognises the State of Palestine but not a specific government.
They add that the main rationale behind the Irish decision to recognise the State of Palestine is to “find a political pathway to peace”.
Israel’s response
Responding to the recognition of Palestine, the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich said last week that it is a “prize for terrorism”.
Meanwhile, the Irish ambassador to Israel was summoned to the Israeli foreign affairs department alongside her Spanish and Norwegian colleagues for a “reprimand”.
While there the three were shown a video of the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Israel’s actions were “no way to treat a diplomat” and “totally unacceptable”.
Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz meanwhile tagged Taoiseach Simon Harris in a post on X, formerly Twitter, and said “Hamas thanks you for your service”.
Attached to Katz’s post was a bizarre video of clips he purported to be of Hamas, bookmarked with videos of Irish dancing with Irish-sounding music in the background.
On Friday of last week, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.
Despite this, Israel continued with its assault and yesterday undertook an airstrike on a displaced people’s camp near Rafah.
At the time of writing, the Gaza Health Ministry has said 45 people were killed in the strike, including women and children.
In a post on X, UNRWA (The United Nations Relief Works Agency) said Gaza has become “hell on earth”.
The post reads: “No one is safe: not civilians, not aid workers, no one has been spared.”
Additional reporting by Lauren Boland
