Israelis block Irish Minister from visiting Gaza

Donal Thornton,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Friday, December 4, 2009, 8:09 AM

Updated Friday, December 4, 2009, 9:42 AM

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Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Martin

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Martin has told an Irish Government committee that his official request to visit Gaza was refused by the Israeli authorities.

"I just wanted to go in and see Gaza" said Minister Martin.

A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy said that Martin was "always welcome" to Israel.

However the spokesperson added: “It is not the appropriate time to visit Gaza because of the Hamas terrorist regime that controls it. This can pose a . . . security risk."

It is not the first time a European Minister has being refused entry to Gaza.

Chairman of the Dáil Committee on European Affairs Bernard Durkan felt that the move by Israel to block a foreign minister from visiting Gaza was "totally intolerable" and that an Irish minister's request "to assess a humanitarian situation is almost without precedent and is tantamount to censorship."

Durkan also voiced his opposition to the blockade of Gaza, which is vehemently opposed by the Irish and Europeans alike.

“The continuing blockade of Gaza by Israel is utterly unjustified." He also said Israel was "unwilling to let the outside world see the suffering which is going on."

Minister Martin went on to outline his position on the Palestinian crisis and indicated that the "international community may need to reconsider what further pressure" it can exert on Israel to solve and bring about a "two-state settlement". He also said the humanitarian conditions in Gaza were "completely unacceptable".

Israel was condemned in a recent Human Rights report in which they were accused of committing war crimes during the short Israeli incursion into Gaza in late 2008 and early 2009.

Minister Martin has asked the Israeli government to provide "further clear evidence" that it was serious about bringing about peace in Palestine. He fears Israel is more concerned with "managing what I fear could well escalate into a situation of incipient conflict."

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seanomelbourne | Jun 03, 2010, 10:31 PM EDT

bobnewyork certainly needs a history lesson re Ireland's wars with England. He seems to sanction the state terrorism of Israel and condoning the death and incarceration of the Palestinian people.Kickstar he is the foreign affairs minister therefore his portfolio dictates his right to travel where and when he likes. Israel has no mandate other than force to block travelers to Gaza, what are they trying to hide?

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jimmy12003 | Dec 14, 2009, 03:33 PM EST

your right kickstar! bobs got his head in the sand! but about that di-ck of a minister, he is another wast-er weve got here, surposed to be doing a job, but were is he? over kissing ass in the middle east! what palestine needs right now is people like the IRA to help them get there country back and clean out that cult! who knows maybe iran will step up to the plate and drop in the cleaner upper!!

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kickstar | Dec 06, 2009, 12:19 AM EST

'bobnewyork' I am not surprised you don't know where Palestine is considering Israel has stolen most of it and Renamed it. And I guarantee you it wont stop until it has gobbled up the rest of it and has driven the Palestinian people into the Sea. And for your information the IRA was never at war with Protestants ,It was at war with the British Army But getting back to the point Ireland in my opinion and this Minister in particular should not involve himself with the politics and the wrongs of the Palestinian Territories we have enough problems at home to focus on without further distractions.

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plasticpaddy | Dec 05, 2009, 01:23 AM EST

He a s aforeign minister is concerned with human rights abuses and helping the less fortunate, not supporting any terror group

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bobnewyork | Dec 04, 2009, 10:42 PM EST

"bringing about peace in Palestine" Palestine? Where is Palestine? There is no such country!!! Ireland's blind support of terror groups such as Hamas that rule the Gaza strip with an iron fist is so typical - didn't you have enough with terrorism during the long running clashes between the IRA and the Protestants. Unbelievable that you would now suppot terrorism, in the form of Hamas and Hezbollah.

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kickstar | Dec 04, 2009, 09:17 AM EST

Ireland should get on with its own business and not be concerned with Israel.

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