Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I believe Israel has the right to exist. Israel was established by the United Nations in accordance with international law. It has the right to exist. I hope the Deputy will agree and will say that in his follow-up response. As any sovereign state, it has the right to defend itself when it is under attack. I can understand why Israel needs to take action to root out terrorists and people who fire rockets at civilians into Israel. Israel is absolutely within its rights to defend itself and to go after Hamas. That does not extend to cutting off electricity to civilian populations, cutting off water and preventing food from entering the Gaza Strip. We are very clear on that in terms of the position of the Irish Government. Basic principles of human rights must apply and they apply to Israel too.

I know the Deputy's support for Palestine is sincere, but I am a little bit disappointed that he has not said anything about Hamas and Hezbollah or any of their actions in his remarks. In fairness to Deputy McDonald, she did, as did Deputy Bacik. I would like to give the Deputy the opportunity to add to what he said earlier - not to take anything back - by saying that he accepts Israel has the right to exist, the right to sovereignty, statehood and security, and that he agrees that the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah for decades, in targeting Israeli civilians, kidnapping Israelis and others, are wrong, have contributed to the conflict and have made it harder to find a solution.

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