The Government has responded to comments from the Israeli foreign minister who claimed Ireland is among the European countries to have “abandoned” Israel and drew comparisons with the fate of Czechoslovakia prior to the Second World War.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore met with the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas this afternoon during the third day of his visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said today that he is to meet his Israeli counterpart to discuss the use of fake Irish passports by a team of assassins.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today threatened to dismiss Cabinet ministers who do not support his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, raising the stakes in a showdown that could break up the government, participants in the meeting said.