Sinn Féin issue statement: The position of the Israeli Ambassador is "untenable"

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has said today that “the Taoiseach’s comments this morning that Israel is not acting in self-defence are correct".

In a statement today, leader of the opposition Mary Lou MacDonald said that "The position of the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland is now untenable,"

The TD for Dublin Central said: "the Ambassador should no longer enjoy diplomatic status in Ireland while Israel refuses the imperative for ceasefires and as the suffering and death toll grow".

Ms McDonald goes on to draw parallels with the current situation in Gaza and Northern Ireland saying : "It is 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. In Ireland we know the cost of conflict, and the value of peace. We know that political dialogue between all sides with the support of partners in the region, and the international community is the only way forward".

The statement concludes with: “Ireland should play our role in the development of an international peace and conflict resolution initiative for Palestine. We believe this should be an issue of national consensus based on the implementation of International Law".

The announcement comes after a city council meeting yesterday in Belfast where a vote was made by People Before Profit to expel the Israeli Ambassador.

The DUP (14 councillors), UUP (two), Alliance (11) and TUV (one) voted against.

Sinn Fein (which has 22 councillors) abstained.