Taoiseach says Israel ‘doesn’t seem to be interested’ in peace ahead of UN address

The Taoiseach said those with influence over Israel, including the US, must push for a credible pathway towards peace

Taoiseach Micheal Martin listens at the Middle East peace event 'The Road Ahead: One Year After the New York Declaration and the Comprehensive 20-point Peace Plan', during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Picture: Toby Melville/PA Wire

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has suggested that Israel does not “seem to be interested” in peace ahead of his national address to the United Nations General Assembly.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also in New York to address UNGA, despite the city’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, suggesting that he should be arrested once he landed on US soil under the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Netanyahu’s address, which is scheduled for 7pm Irish time, takes place several hours before Mr Martin makes Ireland’s national address at 1am on Friday morning, or 8pm local time.

Speaking to reporters in New York, the Taoiseach said that there needs to be a “fundamental shift within Israeli policy towards Palestinians” and “towards a two-state solution”.

He said that while Europe is “divided” on the matter, during a summit held by France, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, he saw “for the first time a critical mass of countries coming together”, suggesting that Israel is “increasingly becoming isolated”.

Martin calls for shift in Israeli policy

However, Mr Martin said that those who can influence Israel and Mr Netanyahu must do so.

“The United States administration and President [Donald] Trump has that influence,” he said.

“That’s fundamentally where this is at, and I appreciate that people are protesting, and that’s, of course, very important that people allow their voices to be heard in support of Palestinians’ right to self-determination, and the flow of humanitarian aid.” 

Mr Martin said that he had never seen such a “depressing and devastating situation” as is happening in Palestine, as he also acknowledged the hurt to Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

With elections due to take place in Israel at the end of October, Mr Martin said people are “putting too much chance” on the belief that if Mr Netanyahu is voted out, the situation would change.

“Israel doesn’t accept the propositions of others, including ourselves, that peace can happen, that you can develop a credible conflict resolution pathway,” the Taoiseach continued.

“They don’t seem to be interested in that. Post what happened on October 7, what we’re witnessing in the West Bank is a form of ethnic cleansing; they’re literally uprooting Palestinians from their homeland.

“All of this is having very significant impacts across the region.”

Taoiseach to address UN General Assembly

Mr Martin accused the Israeli government and security forces of deploying “really excessive, disproportionate, and shocking tactics”.

In his national address, the Taoiseach is expected to say that it is a time of great uncertainty and challenge for the world and that there is a “need to make the multilateral system stronger”.

He will mention conflicts in the world, including in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan.