The Bishop of Elphin has expressed his delight that Ireland has formally recognised the State of Palestine.
It comes as Taoiseach Simon Harris announced yesterday that the country will formally recognise a Palestinian state from May 28th.
The decision is said to be not against Israel nor in favour of Hamas, but rather in support of peace.
Echoing those comments, Bishop Kevin Doran says that this not about being anti-semitic or pro-Hamas. It is simply about recognising, as the United Nations already did in 1948, that the Palestinian people, like the people of Israel, have the right to self-determination and to live in peace in their own land.
Bishop Doran described it as an important step, but that there is still a long road ahead.
He says that lasting peace will only be possible when the State of Israel and the State of Palestine are both willing to recognise one another’s right to exist.
Bishop Doran says that this is something that we in Ireland have had to learn, and with which we are still coming to terms.
Concluding, Bishop Doran prays that, with other like-minded nations, we may be able to help all the children of Abraham to live together in peace.
