Tánaiste denies Israeli criticism of Ireland saying ambassador's comments are 'wrong'

Micheál Martin during the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis.

The Tánaiste has strongly denied criticisms made by the Israeli ambassador that Ireland has been one-sided in its response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Micheál Martin has said he will be contacting Dana Erlich following her comments, which he described as "wrong".

Ms Elrich suggested that Ireland's plans to recognise the state of Palestine would "reward terrorism".

Asked about her comments, Mr Martin said: "We'll be responding to the ambassador because I have condemned Hamas.

"I wonder why the Ambassador has thrown something like that into the middle of this debate, sort of creating a doubt about the Irish Government's position in respect of Hamas, that is not right, and that is wrong.

Mr Martin again stressed Ireland's support for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. He added that Ireland is committed to recognising the Palestinian state.

"We are legitimising the aspiration of Palestinians," he said.

"What we cannot continue with is a continuing undermining of the viability of a Palestinian state, which is what has happened over the last decade or two, where settlements have been encouraged and supported and expanded to the detriment of the viability of a Palestinian state, where we've witnessed Palestinians being displaced in the West Bank, where there's been a long standing blockade on Gaza." 

Meanwhile, Mr Martin condemned Iran's attack on Israel, warning that regional conflict in the Middle East would have "horrendous consequences" on the entire world.

He said Iran has been acting as a benign actor in the region for some time and this should have been "called out" before now.

"I condemn the Iranian attack on Israel. It is an extremely flagrant abuse of international law, and a very, very dangerous response to the attack by Israel on the consulate in Damascus, which in my view was wrong also," Mr Martin said.  

"Iran has been a benign actor in the Middle East for quite some time, it has been supporting Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthis in Yemen and that perhaps hasn't been called out to the degree that it should have been."

He added: "The last thing the world needs is a regional conflict involving Israel and Iran, which will have horrendous consequences for lives and livelihoods in the region but also in the wider world."