Edward Walsh, US President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next US Ambassador to Ireland, was pressed on Ireland's attitudes toward Israel and Palestine during the opening of the US Senate's hearing on ambassadorial nominations on Thursday, May 1.
Walsh, a businessman from New Jersey, was announced in December as Trump's pick to become the new US Ambassador to Ireland.
Each US President must have their ambassadorial nominations confirmed by the US Senate.
The confirmation hearing for Walsh - as well as Leah Campos for Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Charles Kushner for Ambassador to France, and Joe Popolo Jr for Ambassador to the Netherlands - began on Thursday, May 1.
During the hearing's questions portion, Walsh was asked directly three times about Ireland in relation to Israel and Palestine.
"America strongly supports Israel"
In his opening remarks on Thursday, US Senator James Risch (R-ID), Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said to Walsh that the US and Ireland "share important common interests," adding that he had "previously called for Ireland to increase its defense spending to safeguard vital undersea cables from our shared enemies."
Sen Risch continued: “Additionally, as you know, Ireland has recognized a Palestinian state.
"This recognition fails to acknowledge actual conditions on the ground and worse, the horrific attack against Israel on 7 October.
"This is a mistake by Ireland.
"Until Hamas is destroyed, a Palestinian state seems exceptionally unlikely. Calls for statehood fail to recognize that Israel can no longer tolerate terrorists in Gaza or in Lebanon. For too long, these groups have been a dagger pointed at the heart of Jerusalem and must be destroyed.
"I hope you will ensure that our friends in Ireland will understand that America strongly supports Israel."
Concluding, Sen Risch said that he would also like to hear how Walsh would continue the US' "historic role in implementing the Good Friday Agreement."
Meanwhile, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) focused on the Good Friday Agreement in her opening statement, also asking how Walsh would work to preserve it. She made no mention in her opening remarks about Israel.
"Issues between Israel and Ireland"
Speaking after the opening statements, Walsh delivered his own statement in which he touted his business and leadership experience and said a foremost priority would be the economic partnership between the US and Ireland.
He added: "In addressing the global challenges of our time, Ireland has been a steadfast partner. We collaborate closely on many issues, and I look forward to working together to advance our common interests and goals and uphold the values we hold dear.
"President Trump has made it very clear that Israel is a close ally of ours and that antisemitism has no room in the entire world.
"I look forward to working, constructively engaging, on the issues that are contributing to the issues between Israel and Ireland."
"Mistake the Irish are making"
In the questions portion of Thursday's hearing, Sen Risch told Walsh that it is "heartbreaking to see the mistake that the Irish are making regarding the Jewish state and Hamas."
He said: "It's absolutely heartbreaking, is all I can say, as far as watching that. With zero recognition of what Hamas did on October the 7th."
Ireland has continually condemned the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7.
On October 7, 2023, Ireland's then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "The firing of rockets by Hamas and the loss of life in fighting is appalling, as is the impact on people going about their daily lives. We condemn attacks on civilians unequivocally. The fighting should stop immediately"
Then-Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the same day: "I again unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel. The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable. They must be released immediately."
Later, when Ireland formally recognized Palestine in May 2024, then-Taoiseach Simon Harris said in part: "Let me be clear that Ireland condemns the barbaric massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7th last."
Harris added: "Recognising the statehood of Palestine sends a message that there is a viable alternative to the nihilism of Hamas. Hamas has nothing to offer but pain and suffering to Israelis and Palestinians alike."
Sen Risch continued on Thursday: "This is going to be a tough needle to thread when you got a close ally making a horrible mistake, but you've got to thread that needle.
"And I hope you convey the message that they are very much out of step with the United States as far as their relationship with those countries in the Middle East."
Walsh responded: "It certainly is a topic that we're going to be discussing for a long time, and I am really looking forward to getting really a detailed brief on all the issues relevant to this.
"But I do know that President Trump's been very clear, along with many of you, that Ireland is an ally and there's no room for antisemitism throughout the world.
"It definitely will be a big part of my conversations with them and I do look forward to that. But, I hear you, be glad to meet with you on it, I'll meet with you again on it if you want to, and hopefully when you come over, we'll meet and even have other meetings if you would like.
"I do understand the issue, but I'm really looking forward to really diving into more of the detail."
Hold members of Irish Government accountable for "disparaging a US ally"
Walsh was again pressed by US Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) on the matter of Ireland's recognition of Palestine later in the questions portion of Thursday's hearing.
Sen Scott said: "Historically, we have had a very strong relationship with Ireland and I hope that continues, however, several members of the Irish Government have made inflammatory, one-sided statements blaming Israel for the conflict in the Middle East while ignoring terrorism by Hamas and Hezbollah.
"How are you going to be able to push back against this rhetoric and hold them accountable for disparaging a US ally?"
Walsh offered a similar response to what he told Sen Risch earlier - however, he did, this time, acknowledge that Ireland had condemned the October 7 attacks, which he called a "good start."
Walsh continued: "President Trump has made it very clear that Israel is an ally, and I am fully on board with that, and any antisemitism throughout the whole world will not be tolerated, and I agree with that also."
Walsh said he would love to meet with Sen Scott or anyone else on the Committee to talk about the matter further, adding that "it's certainly on my mind."
He added that it's "something that I'm looking forward to discussing more and just having open conversation with them to talk it through so they understand what our role is with that."
Ireland's support for the ICC "endangers core American interests"
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) addressed both Walsh and Joe Popolo Jr, Trump's pick for Ambassador to the Netherlands, regarding Israel and Palestine in relation to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In November 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif).
Ireland is one of the 125 countries that are party to the ICC; both the US and Israel are not.
"Ireland has filed a motion to directly boost the ICC campaign," Cruz said to Walsh.
"We've heard multiple times today that Ireland and the Netherlands have deep partnerships with the US, which is undoubtedly true.
"It is equally true that their support for the ICC endangers core American interests."
Sen Cruz asked how Walsh responds to these issues, to which he said he had "not been fully briefed on that item."
"I know that it's a big issue though," Walsh continued, " and I know it's a big concern of yours, and many others, even President Trump has let me know that.
"What we need to do about it is communicate the way we feel about and then relay that message back to you guys and figure out a way to really hold them reliable to actually helping us.
"We're an ally of Israel, so it's a difficult conversation, to tell you the truth. And I'd be glad to relay your message and President Trump's message over to them at any time."
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