Taoiseach condemns Trump’s stance on Jerusalem during visit with Irish troops
THE Taoiseach has condemned the US administration’s recent policy intervention on the Middle East regarding the status of Jerusalem.
“The US is making the wrong long-term decisions, particularly for this region,” said Leo Varadkar.
He was speaking in Lebanon while on a visit to Irish peace-keeping troops stationed at the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission.
There are currently 343 Irish peacekeepers deployed for the next six months and over Christmas, charged with maintaining the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.
The Trump administration’s decision to unravel decades of international consensus by recognising Jerusalem as the sole capital of Israel was resoundingly rejected at the UN General Assembly this week.
Notwithstanding the emphatic agreement in New York, Mr Varadkar said “Ireland had no reservations whatsoever in voting as we did at the UN”.
Ireland was one of the 128 countries that voted in favour of an Egyptian-led resolution condemning America’s Jerusalem push. Just nine voted in favour.
“I certainly disagree with the decision of the US administration to move their embassy to Jerusalem, I think it’s a decision which will stoke up tensions in this region,” said Mr Varadkar.
“There’s already a day of action planned; there had been protests here in Lebanon ... I think it’s a misstep.”
In the hours leading up the vote, both US President Donald Trump and his Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley threatened to revoke aid and support from any country that voted against its decision.
They said they were
“taking names” of all sovereign countries.
Mr Varadkar said in relation to this: “There are different approaches to foreign policy and different approaches to how you deal with partners in the world. Our approach is a different one.
“We don’t seek to threaten people; we seek to engage, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.
He has spent the last couple of days visiting Irish, Finnish, Fijian and Estonian troops at UN post 2-45 in South Lebanon.
It is the mission in which Ireland’s foreign policy strength as a peace-keeping force is best reflected.
He laid a wreath commemorating the 47 Irish soldiers who lost their lives as part of the many battalions for UNIFIL since its mandate began in 1978.
Each name was read out by Captain Eoin Troy, and all were commemorated with a minute’s silence and a flagraising ceremony.
Also in attendance was Mahmoud Fawaz, the former mayor of Tibnin, the town in which the first outpost for UNIFIL was erected and where thousands of Irish troops have served.
Mr Varadkar was presented with a bunch of flowers by three little girls from the local orphanage in thanks for Ireland’s efforts in preserving stability in the area.
In the greater sphere of Middle East conflict, Mr Varadkar said Ireland’s place would be among its allies in the EU.
“As much as I’d like to believe Ireland could arrive in the Middle East and arrive in Jerusalem and Amman and Damascus and negotiate peace, I don’t think our role is that strong in the world,” he said.
“But I do think the European Union could take a leadership role; and potentially resolve conflicts,” he added.