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

I thank Deputies for their questions. The European Union does not have a single foreign policy. Each member state has its own foreign policy. This is very evident when one looks at the different positions held and different actions taken by the 27 member states. Depending on the case involved, we try, from time to time and on a case-by-case basis, to have a common policy. We have done that fairly successfully in respect of Ukraine, but there are dissenters, like Hungary, for example. When it comes to Israel and Palestine, it will be difficult because different countries are coming from very different perspectives with this issue and this conflict. We were able to agree compromise language, and that was the basis of the European Council statement the weekend before last. We will try to do the same over the course of the next two days. I am sure that on Thursday and Friday in Brussels we will discuss co-operation with Israel.

2 o’clock

As we all know, there is very strong support for Israel from most EU member states, but that could change. That will depend on how Israel acts in the coming weeks and months. President Biden described it very well. He said that the events of 7 October in Israel were the Israeli people's 9/11. They were attacked, civilians were killed in huge numbers and it came as a huge shock and huge trauma to the Israeli population. The point he made, and I think it was a very valid one, was that Israel should not make the same mistakes the US made. It is very clear what he meant because the US made terrible mistakes after 9/11, which caused a lot of hurt in a lot of parts of the world and impacted on its influence. The point President Biden was making to Israel, if you read between the lines, was a message of restraint and is one we will be making as well.

Regarding international law, our view as the Irish Government is that collective punishment that deliberately targets civilians and civilian infrastructure is a breach of international humanitarian law no matter who does it. We have been very clear and consistent on that. I cannot speak for the President of the European Commission or other member states, and nor would I, but I understand that other member states come from different perspectives. Let us not forget why so many European Jews had to emigrate to their ancestral home in Palestine, in Israel. It was because of what was done in Europe, particularly the Holocaust. Many countries feel historic guilt because of their involvement in the latter. We have to understand that.

We also have to understand that when it comes to extremist Islamic terrorism, the Supernova event in Israel was not the first concert to be attacked by Islamic fundamentalists. Let us not forget what happened at the Bataclan in Paris or what happened in Manchester.

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