Israel row rumbles on
In wake of Dublin mayor’s Ramallah trip, fears that Ireland will lose out on UN role
FOREIGN Minister Simon Coveney believes a diplomatic row with Israel will not torpedo Ireland’s chances of a seat on the UN Security Council.
Fears of an Israeli whispering campaign aimed at thwarting Ireland’s chances have emerged after the latest row over the Dublin Lord Mayor’s trip to Ramallah.
The Irish Ambassador to Israel, Alison Kelly, was summoned to a dressing down at the Israeli Foreign Ministry last Friday after the Dublin Lord Mayor took part in a conference in the West Bank the previous day.
A diplomatic source said at the weekend that Israel would be expected to oppose Ireland’s bid for a temporary security council position. Ireland is vying for the place with Canada and Norway, two UN member states with very strong standing at the UN. Israel would prefer Norway to succeed, distrusting Canada.
Both of our competitors are already engaged in high-level political campaigns.
The Tánaiste spent a day at UN Headquarters in New York in March where he met representatives of 50 African, Arab and Caribbean countries to press Ireland’s case.
Ireland’s setback with Israel occurred when Dublin’s Sinn Féin Lord Mayor, Mícheál Mac Donncha, signed a piece of paper on leaving Israel saying he would not again enter the country without the permission of the government in Tel Aviv. Now there are fears that Israel will not only oppose Ireland’s effort for a seat on the Security Council, but actively move to block this country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is furious at the Lord Mayor Mícheál Mac Donncha’s visit, saying he ‘should be ashamed of himself’. Israel is an ally of one of the Council’s permanent members, the US, and would have significant international leverage.
Asked about the possibility of active Israeli diplomatic resistance to Ireland’s candidacy, the response from the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday was: ‘We are running our campaign based on our track record at the UN over more than 60 years.’
The Israeli Embassy in Dublin had no immediate comment yesterday, but Ireland has been singled out by even respected Israeli newspapers as a near-enemy for this country’s support of Palestinian statehood, although we have not officially recognised its existence – unlike other European countries. Ireland also opposed the transfer of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a sensitive point for Palestinians.
Ireland is seeking international support to serve on the Council for the 2021 to 2022 term. There are two seats available.
In addition to the weekend missiles strikes by the US, Britain and France, Israel last week unleashed an air attack on Syria.
Mr Coveney is in Luxembourg today for a Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting, which will heavily feature Syria, Russia and Gaza. Last night he hosted a dinner for foreign ministers from the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania.
Vying for seat on Security Council