Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Varadkar raises concerns about EU ‘double standards’ on Israel and Palestine

The Irish premier also said neither Shannon Airport, nor any other Irish airport, was being used by the US military to support Israel.

By Grinne N. Aodha
Sunday 19 November 2023 14:26 GMT
Leo Varadkar said Shannon Airport was not being used by the US military to support Israel (Brian Lawless/PA)
Leo Varadkar said Shannon Airport was not being used by the US military to support Israel (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said there is “double standards” from the EU and some Western powers in relation to Israel and Palestine.

The Taoiseach said the stance of some Western countries in response to the Israel-Hamas war had “undermined the fight” to garner support for Ukraine as it battles against the ongoing Russian invasion.

He said that neither Shannon Airport, nor any other Irish airport, was being used by the US military to support Israel.

“No. You have to receive express permission to bring munitions through any airport in Ireland and they have to be signed off on by the Department of Transport and the Minister for Transport, and that’s not happening,” the Taoiseach told RTE.

Mr Varadkar said he believed the Irish Government was “matching our words” when it came to its stance on Israel and Palestine, and that other countries had taken a “double standards” approach but Ireland had not.

One of the concerns I have is that the double standards that are being applied by some countries in the West is actually undermining the fight in Ukraine

Leo Varadkar

“I don’t think that’s true in relation to Ireland,” he told The Week in Politics.

“If they’re saying that in relation to the European Union and some Western powers, I think they’re correct and I made that point at the peace conference in Paris, that there can’t be double standards when it comes to the conflict in Ukraine.

“That when it comes to international humanitarian law, it has to apply across the board.

“One of the concerns I have is that the double standards that are being applied by some countries in the West is actually undermining the fight in Ukraine.

“Because one of the things that I’ve been working very hard on, and European leaders have been working very hard on, is to gain support for Ukraine across the global south – from Africa, from Latin America, from Asia – saying to them that what’s happening in Ukraine is a war of aggression, it’s an imperialist war.

“Unfortunately, some of the double standards that we’ve seen from a lot of Western powers has undermined that fight.”

The Taoiseach was speaking after thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched through Dublin city and carried out a sit-in outside the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Government has confirmed that 50 Irish citizens and their dependants have fled Gaza in recent days as part of international efforts to evacuate people with foreign passports.

Some Irish citizens from Gaza arrived from Cairo at Dublin Airport this weekend.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in