Taoiseach Simon Harris was on CNN on Thursday, May 23 to discuss Ireland's announcement the day prior that it would be formally recognizing the State of Palestine.
“There is never a wrong time to do the right thing,” Harris told Christiane Amanpour on CNN on Thursday when asked about the timing of Ireland's announcement on Wednesday, in concert with Spain and Norway, about formally recognizing the State of Palestine.
“We can very clearly differentiate between Hamas, which is a disgusting, despicable, illegal organization, and the people of Palestine, the children of Palestine, the civilians, and the most horrific humanitarian catastrophe that’s unfolding.”
When asked for his reaction to the "reprimand" Israel handed to the Irish Ambassador Sonya McGuinness after Ireland's recognition announcement, Harris replied: “Ireland has an excellent Ambassador in Israel and she is doing a wonderful job representing the views of the Irish government and the Irish people, and I thank her and I thank the team.
"Of course, any foreign ministry can call in any ambassador.
"But what I will not tolerate is any country misrepresenting the position of the Irish people."
After Ireland announced it would be formally recognizing the State of Palestine on Wednesday, Israel's Foreign Minister said in a post on X that he "issued a severe Démarche" to the Irish, Spanish, and Norwegian Ambassadors and that they would be shown "a video of the brutal and cruel kidnapping of our daughters by Hamas terrorists, to emphasize the distorted decision their governments have made."
Harris continued: "I am the leader of the Irish Government, I speak on behalf of Ireland, and we have been clear and unequivocal that we condemn Hamas, that we condemn the most horrific, barbaric massacre that Israel experienced on the 7th of October, we call for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages.
“But, it is entirely possible to say what I have just said and also say the next bit, which, sadly, some refuse to say - that what is happening in Palestine, what is happening in Gaza, is a humanitarian catastrophe, that children are being starved, are being deprived of food, and that there are children who will go to sleep in Gaza tonight not sure if they will wake in the morning.
"This situation is not sustainable. It needs to stop.
"And I have no intention of being in any way shape or form distracted from the immediate need for a cessation of violence in the Middle East, the need for the release of hostages, for humanitarian aid to flow unimpeded and unhindered, and the need for a peace settlement.
"And I can say this to the people of Israel - we recognize the State of Israel, we recognize the State of Israel’s right to live in peace, and security. That is their right.
"The people of Palestine also must have an equivalent right to peace and security.
"And let me also say this to the people of Israel - the Irish people know what it’s like to have their national identity hijacked by a terrorist organization. The IRA [Irish Republican Army] was never the people of Ireland, and Hamas is not the people of Palestine.”
When asked what practical, immediate effect that European countries formally recognizing Palestine would have, Harris replied: “I do expect more [countries] to recognize.
“And it does, obviously, have an immediate effect in terms of the ability of Palestine to seek to have an Embassy here in Dublin and the ability, indeed, of our representation in Ramallah to be upgraded.
“But it has more than that. I hope by taking what I believe to be a principled leadership stance that it enables and empowers and encourages other countries to come forward as well, because I know there are many countries that are giving consideration to this.
"And, of course, every country must make a judgment as to when is the right moment, but it is the considered view of Ireland, and indeed of Spain, and indeed of Norway - three countries which I think any fair analysis would say have a long and proud history of peace and peacemaking and in working towards a two-state solution in the Middle East.
"I hope that our recognition gives that sense of positive momentum.
"The State of Israel loses nothing by us recognizing the State of Palestine. Instead, it is a positive step towards peace because what is happening now cannot continue and it is time for the world to find courage of their convictions.
"We need to stand by international law, we need to stand by human rights. And that means children in Israel, children in Palestine having a right to live safely, side by side in peace and security.
"Anything else in terms of videos from foreign ministries and the likes is distracting from the very, very serious issue of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding.
(Harris later clarified that he was referring to the video shared by Israel's Foreign Minister on X earlier on Thursday.)
"And let me absolutely clear again, what happened in Israel on the 7th of October was a despicable, disgusting, terrorist act on the people of Israel. We stand in solidarity in relation, we have been clear in condemnation of Hamas.
"But we also know that the way to bring peace and security and stability to the Middle East is a two-state solution. And to bring that about, you need to recognize the existence of two States."
Later in the interview, Harris said he values Ireland's relationship with Israel.
"I don't want to see a scenario where Israel finds itself isolated in the world.
"But, we do need to see the cessation of violence. That's what brings about the conditions to create peace and stability in the Middle East.
"And we have to be so clear - we have to be absolutely, so clear - what is happening at the moment in Palestine is unconscionable and is almost unimaginable.
"And I don't yet think the world comprehends the scale of devastation facing the Palestinian civilians. We cannot turn a blind eye.
"I will not allow a scenario where in years to come, people ask me, 'What did you do in that moment?' and people ask Ireland, 'What did you do in that moment?' The answer can not be that we stayed silent. We must stand up for human rights, stand up against breaches of international law, and call out this humanitarian catastrophe.
"The only way to resolve this conflict is through peaceful, political dialogue."
"I will not allow a scenario where in years to come, people ask me, what did you do at that moment? The answer cannot be that we stayed silent."
Irish Taoiseach @SimonHarrisTD tells @amanpour why he has chosen to officially recognise Palestinian statehood this week: pic.twitter.com/1XiNcaMRkv
— CNN International PR (@cnnipr) May 23, 2024
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