Israeli ambassador should be called before Dáil and 'made account' for 'propaganda'

Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly has said she did not immediately call for the expulsion of the Ambassador, but told the Dáil that she is now 'finding it very difficult to stick with that decision'

Catherine Connolly said Israel's Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich, above, 'has had free rein propagating utter propaganda on our airwaves'.

The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland has been called on to appear before politicians to be "made account" for the "propaganda" that she is spreading.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly, raising the issue during leader's question, said she did not immediately call for the expulsion of Dana Erlich, but told the Dáil that she is now "finding it very difficult to stick with that decision".

Ms Connolly, who is also the Leas Ceann Comhairle, said the Ambassador "has had free rein propagating utter propaganda on our airwaves with no balanced opposition to that, repeating that they're a democracy as if that gives them an entitlement to slaughter and carry out genocide, and that's what we're listening to on our airwaves".

Ms Connolly told the Dáil: "That Ambassador should be called in here before the Dáil and made account for the words that she's using. That's what diplomacy is, in my view, at this point when we are looking at genocide."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that he has sent a joint letter with the Spanish prime minister which expresses deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and calls for an urgent assessment of whether Israel is in breach of the human rights obligations under the EU Israel Association agreement.

"If the Commission concludes that Israel is in breach of its obligations under the agreement, then the Commission should propose a response. Although suspension may well require unanimity of member states," Mr Varadkar told the Dáil.

However, Mr Varadkar warned that no war has ever been ended by a court order, by the expulsion of an ambassador, or by the suspension of an agreement.

"To think so is just make-believe," Mr Varadkar said.

Ceasefire

Instead, he called for an immediate ceasefire which he said must be followed up with a permanent political solution.

Pressing for further actions from the Government, Ms Connolly said "we have stood idly by" over the past four months as "genocide has been perpetrated in our name" and as Israeli settlements have increased in the Occupied Territories.

However, Mr Varadkar said this is not the case and outlined seven "very concrete" actions taken by the Government, including being one of the first countries in the world to call for a humanitarian ceasefire.

He said the Government has used its voice at both EU and UN levels to call for humanitarian aid for Palestinians.

"We have joined in Spain just today in calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association agreement and we are in discussions with other EU member states about recognising the state of Palestine," Mr Varadkar added.