Tánaiste Micheál Martin backs sanctions on West Bank settlers as he arrives at Cop28 for climate talks
[ad_1]
Micheál Martin talks on Mary Robinson at Cop28
Micheál Martin has said sanctions may be imposed on “aggressive settlers” in the occupied West Bank as the “shocking” bombardment of Gaza continues.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs said he was “horrified” by the loss of life and said an immediate humanitarian ceasefire was essential.
Mr Martin was speaking on his arrival at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai on Friday morning after visiting Saudi Arabia where he spoke with government representatives about the conflict.
He also met his United Arab Emirates counterpart in Dubai on Thursday evening.
Micheál Martin has said sanctions may be imposed on “aggressive settlers” in the occupied West Bank. Phil Behan/DFA
“I’m horrified at the loss of civilian life, the loss of children. I think it’s shocking, it’s unacceptable,” he said.
“Death and misery is flowing from this at an extraordinary scale, a shocking scale, and the amount of explosions, the bombardment, is at a level that’s almost unprecedented.
“Many military analysts are saying this now and that is having shocking implications for ordinary citizens living in Gaza.”
Mr Martin said Ireland was calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
This and other issues would be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, he said.
“I will be working with like-minded European Union states in advance of that meeting to work on potential sanctions of aggressive settlers in the West Bank but also critically looking at how we can put pressure to get the violence to stop.”
As the violence in Gaza continues, there has also been moves against Palestinians in parts of the West Bank.
The Tánaiste was speaking before the first of three engagements at Cop28 where he is to announce details of €50m in funding to support-climate related projects in vulnerable countries.
He will share one platform with former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who is at the summit today for the first time since details of her argument with Cop28 president Dr Sultan Al Jaber over the need to phase out fossil fuels became public.
Mr Martin he admired Mrs Robinson and her long commitment to working on climate change.
“I marvel at her worth ethic and her energy and I think that was an important debate and in many ways reflects the sort of principled approach she takes to this issue.
“It’s going to be the subject matter of negotiation now in terms of the precise language but we support the phasing out of fossil fuels as a country and we’re looking for the strongest possible mandate from the EU side going into those negotiations.”
[ad_2]
