Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar stated to reporters in Brussels today that Dublin is in discussions with other EU member states aiming to review the partnership agreement between Israel and the European Union, based on the premise that Israel "may have violated the human rights clause of the agreement." He mentioned that several EU member states are also discussing the possibility of jointly recognizing a Palestinian state after the current conflict concludes.
Varadkar added to reporters following an EU summit that "the EU-Israel relations are based on an agreement that includes a human rights clause, and many of us believe that Israel may have violated it." He continued, "That is something we are talking about." He noted, "There is no complete consensus, but I called for this today and I called for it in December."
He also mentioned, "Another thing we are discussing is recognition. Several EU member states moving together to recognize Palestine could allow for further negotiations from a position of parity after the war in Gaza regarding a two-state solution." Ireland has long advocated for Palestinian rights, and ministers have stated that the government is considering recognizing a Palestinian state. Varadkar, speaking at the end of the EU summit, emphasized that there are many "very like-minded countries" at the EU table.
