Attacks on Gaza - Taoiseach correct to criticise UN

THE vast majority of Irish people will support Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s forthright condemnation of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza.

As weekend protests in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Derry and Sligo demonstrated, there is widespread backing for the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli army, hell-bent on crushing Hamas, mindless of the appalling repercussions on the civilian population.

It is also clear, as Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has emphasised, that Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups must desist from all rocket attacks against Israel.