Israel’s ambassador to Ireland today admitted his country has made mistakes in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
But defending Israel after the killing of nine activists last month on an aid mission to Gaza, Dr Zion Evrony claimed it was fighting Europe’s war on terror.
The top diplomat was speaking at an Oireachtas European Affairs Committee after the partial lifting of the controversial blockade on Gaza.
His counterpart, Dr Hikmat Ajjuri, ambassador of the General Delegation of Palestine to Ireland, also attended the meeting separately.
Dr Evrony, who had withdrawn from an earlier committee meeting in the wake of the international fall-out over the Israeli commando attack on the blockade-busting flotilla, said he wanted to explain the complexities of the conflict. “I’m not here to claim everything we do is perfect,” he said.
“We have our fair share of mistakes.” Ordinary Israelis were coming under regular rocket attacks by
Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza strip, while Iran was threatening to wipe the State off the map, he said.
Israel was trying to strike a balance between upholding human rights and fighting terrorism. “In combating Hamas, we are also fighting Europe’s war against global terrorism,” he said.
Arguing against calls for an EU trade boycott of Israeli goods in the wake of the killing of the nine activists, Dr Evrony said sanctions would not achieve peace.
But Labour human rights spokesman Joe Costello said he could not argue against sanctions on Israel while it was imposing a “considerable sanction” on Gaza for some time.
Independent Senator Fergal Quinn said he understood the logic of a blockade by Israel, adding his criticism was of their “marketing” of the sanctions.
Dr Ajjuri told the meeting that only pressure from the international community would secure peace in the Middle East and not discussions between Israel and the Palestinians.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin tonight rejected calls for trade sanctions against Israel.
While he understood and sympathised with the desire to “do something”, he said it was absolutely clear there would be no possibility of obtaining agreement at EU level for a boycott.
Under intense international pressure, Israel last Thursday announced it would ease the blockade on Gaza, allowing in items unless they feature on a new list of banned goods.
Humanitarian aid, food and building supplies will be allowed in, the Israeli Government said.
PA