Taoiseach calls on global powers to de-escalate conflict in the Middle East
Oliva Kelleher
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called on global powers to work together in a bid to de escalate the conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking in Cork on Saturday, Mr Martin expressed concern about violence between Israel and Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. He said that there was an urgent need for a return to a rules based international order.
“It is deeply concerning that we have so much conflict in the Middle East.
"It is dangerous in terms of its impact on civilian populations in the first instance. We see the horrors of Gaza - Syria is coming out of the embers of a horrible civil war.
"A new Government is installed there endeavouring to find and create some stability - we have instability and war in Lebanon, a new Government there trying to create stability and sustainable life for people in Lebanon."
We have the appalling settlements in the West Bank."
"Iran should have engaged a long time ago on its nuclear programme and to dismantling it."
"But there has to be a return to a rules-based international order. At the moment it is receding before our very eyes. It is being eroded.
Mr Martin said that the influence of the United Nations had been eroded and undermined.
“That is a matter of deep concern to us."
"We want to see a peaceful resolution to the conflict - we believe in dialogue and we believe in diplomacy. So we would say - to the world powers in particular - to use their influence and stop the hostilities to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages.
"And to get a huge surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza."
"Also to bring about a cessation (of violence) and to de-escalate between Iran and Israel." He also called on Iran to de escalate the crisis in the Middle East by continuing to engage internationally in relation to its nuclear programme.
"It is important that (Iran) they would continue to engage but the context now may make that very difficult."
"They should have engaged, in my view, far more proactively in the past."
"The International Atomic Energy Agency called it out during the week - but equally they said the bombing of nuclear installations is hugely concerning. There is the risk of widespread potential death and destruction."
"The only sustainable way of ensuring peace is through dialogue and diplomacy, ultimately."
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said he was pleased to see the release of People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy and other Irish citizens from custody in Egypt.
Deputy Murphy had travelled to the country with a number of other Irish people to participate in a Gaza peace march.
Mr Murphy said he was among a group of 65 people, including Irish British and French citizens, who were detained yesterday by authorities in Egypt.
Mr Martin said that the situation is “very fraught out there.”
“Tensions are very high in Egypt and very high in Jordan. We believe people have an entitlement to peaceful protest and to engage in that.
"How realistic it was to try to go through Rafah is another question? Let's all be honest and realistic about that - it was never going to happen."
"I have been to Rafah myself - but when I was there as a Government minister there was a complex and a compound. That is all destroyed subsequently by the Israeli invasion."
"People are entitled to peaceful protest and I am glad they have been released and we want their safe return - peaceful, legitimate protest is something that should always be facilitated by Governments."
