Israeli Ambassador: Recognising Palestine a ‘Prize for Terrorism’ May 22, 2024 Admin Politics </p> <h2>Israeli Ambassador: Recognising Palestine a ‘prize for Terrorism’</h2> <p> The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland has said the decision to recognise Palestine as a State is akin to a “prize for terrorism”.</p> <p>Government leaders announced this morning that Ireland would acknowledge an independent Palestinian State on May 28th.</p> <p>Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich said the Irish Government cannot “impose a peace process” or other political announcements on another State.</p> <p>“How does this help the people of Gaza?” she asked The Pat Kenny Show.</p> <p>“Today waking up to this news, how does this help them under the Hamas regime, a brutal, cynical regime?</p> <p>“Half an hour after the announcement, Hamas welcomed and celebrated the statement, calling it a direct result of the ‘brave resistance’ on October 7th.</p> <p>“The fact that Hamas is welcoming this step, that Iran is welcoming this step is a clear sign that this is seen as a prize for terrorism.”</p> <p>Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz recalled Ms Erlich earlier today for “consultations”.</p> <p>She explained she will return to Israel to discuss “possible steps and the future of our relations” with Ireland.</p> <p>“When I came to Ireland eight or nine months ago, I was very optimistic about the different collaborations that we can broaden,” she said.</p> <p>“I’m still optimistic that we can do it, but we need to address right now a worrying trend of anti-Israeli initiatives that we see here in Ireland and the rise of antisemitism.”</p> <p>Ms Erlich noted antisemitism is not simply criticising Israel as the Irish Government has done in the past.</p> <p>“What we see as antisemitism is the vilification of Israeli people and Jewish communities – we see it at protests in universities, we see it in denying the national identity of the Jewish people.</p> <p>“If we talk about national identity and self-determination in the same way that right now is being recognised for Palestinians, we would assume Israelis and Zionism would be recognised in the same way.”</p> <p>Ms Erlich noted this recognition will not increase the chances of the return of the 128 Israeli hostages in Gaza.</p> <p>Spain and Norway also announced plans to recognise Palestine today, with both ambassadors also recalled to Israel.</p> <p>_____________________________________________________________________________________</p> <p>Credit to : Newstalk</p> <p> Please support our Sponsors here --
