Gavin and Martin distance themselves from President’s Israel comments

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin have distanced themselves from President Michael D Higgins’ call to expel Israel from the United Nations.

Mr Gavin was speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Co Offaly, where Mr Higgins suggested to reporters earlier in the week that Israel and countries that supply it with weapons should be excluded from the United Nations.

Mr Higgins made the remarks while reacting to the publication of a report, a team of independent experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council, which concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Israel refused to cooperate with the commission and has described allegations of genocide as antisemitic.

Asked if he agreed with Mr Higgins on Thursday, Mr Gavin said the Constitution is clear that matters of foreign policy are to be determined by the Government.

It is not the policy of the Government to support the expulsion of Israel from the UN.

Mr Gavin, who is running to be the next president, said: “President Higgins has obviously highlighted his personal opinion and reflects on that.

“For my part, the presidency is non-partisan, it’s non-political.

“You speak for people who are part of parties and of none: No parties.

“So the President speaks on behalf of the nation in terms of what the President senses from the people of Ireland.”

Pressed on whether he would agree with Mr Higgins, he reiterated that such a decision was “a matter for Government policy”.

Mr Gavin was the chosen candidate of Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach Michael Martin, who also distanced himself from the President’s position.

“Ireland is committed to multilateralism.

“It’s a huge step to expel someone from the United Nations.”

Mr Martin said it has long been his view that “keeping communication channels open” was the best diplomatic approach.

“Now, Israel has been very critical of the United Nations and has, and has sought to undermine the United Nations at every turn, particularly the UN agencies that operate in the Middle East and who do such incredible work from a humanitarian perspective.”

He added: “That’s something that we would have to give careful deliberation to, and certainly our multilateral impulse is such that that’s not something we’re contemplating right now.

“Our focus, rather, is trying to get pressure on Israel to stop the carnage, to stop the slaughter of innocent children and civilians. “