Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Matt Carthy TD, has accused Israel of waging war against the United Nations and has said that International Law will become meaningless unless global leaders take action.

Teachta Carthy said:

“Israel is waging a war on the United Nations.  Having blatantly disregarded international law for decades the attacks on UNFIL peacekeepers in recent days represent another red line crossed.

“International law will be rendered meaningless unless global leaders finally take action.  Israel can only maintain the gross violence they are inflicting upon Palestine and Lebanon because of the economic and military support of the United States, European Union and others.

“Their support has allowed Israel in the past year to murder over 200 UNRWA employees, and more recently to use Irish peacekeepers deployed as part of the UNIFIL mission as human shields, and in the past day to actually mount a military assault against peacekeepers.

“Israel is emboldened to attack United Nations peacekeepers because no one has ever held them to account – this must change.

“The United States must cease arming a rogue regime that murders civilians by their tens of thousands and believes it has authority greater than that of the United Nations itself.

“The European Union must respect the will of the United Nations General Assembly which demands the suspension of the EU Israel Association Agreement.

“Sinn Féin extends its solidarity to United Nations peacekeepers and relief workers across the region and we particularly commend the members of the Irish Defence Forces stationed in Lebanon – they are doing us proud.

“Less so our government who have still failed to implement a single sanction against Israel, even as they have put our peacekeepers at risk.  The failure of the Taoiseach at the White House this week to robustly call on the US to cease its arming of Israel is unforgivable.

“It’s time for all leaders who value international law to take action against an Israeli government currently waging war against the United Nations.  Ireland can and should show the way.”