Tánaiste Micheal Martin has arrived in Brussels for a meeting of EU foreign ministers, the first to be chaired by the EU’s new foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas.
It’s a heavy agenda as ministers are due to discuss the war in Ukraine, in Gaza, Lebanon and developments in Syria, amongst other topics.
The meeting comes a day after Israel announced that it will close its embassy in Dublin over disagreements with the Irish government.
Speaking in Brussels this morning, Micheal Martin TD said that Ireland’s position towards Israel has always been based around a “respect for international humanitarian law, respect for human rights”.
The Tánaiste said Irish people are “repulsed” by the war in Gaza. “We believe passionately that there is an alternative route now”.
“The war in Gaza is a moral question”, he added.
Ireland wants the EU to use the leverage of its trade agreement with Israel to bring the Israelis to the table. Israel previously indicated that it would attend a meeting, but no date has yet been forthcoming.
It is understood Kaja Kallas wants to see progress towards a meeting of the so-called Association Council between the EU and Israel.
“In the event of the convening of the Association Council, it cannot be business as usual…Gaza and humanitarian human rights issues have to be on the agenda”, said the Tánaiste.
On developments in Syria, Kaja Kallas confirmed this morning that the EU’s Special Envoy to Syria has been dispatched to Damascus to make contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.