Simon Harris hits out at Alan Shatter, saying he will not be silenced on deaths of children
Simon Harris said Israel has become blinded by rage, adding: "You cannot build peace on the mass graves of children". Picture: Darragh Kane
Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has strongly criticised his former Fine Gael colleague Alan Shatter, stating he will not silenced by anyone on the deaths of children.
It comes after Mr Shatter took to social media to accuse Mr Harris of "incitement to hate" for claiming in the Dáil that Israel's original right to defend itself has become a war on children.
I have long been aware of the lack of principle of former Fine Gael colleagues & their compulsive need for media attention.The blood libel, ignorance & incitement to hate in this Dail speech has reached a new level pic.twitter.com/OdvmKACVzM
— Alan Shatter (@Alan__Shatter) November 15, 2023
Mr Harris added Israel has become blinded by rage, adding: "You cannot build peace on the mass graves of children".
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Mr Shatter posted a clip of Mr Harris and wrote: "I have long been aware of the lack of principle of former Fine Gael colleagues and their compulsive need for media attention. The blood libel, ignorance and incitement to hate in this Dáil speech has reached a new level."
Asked about the accusations, Mr Harris said: "I don't think they really merit comment, he's entitled to his view, everyone is.
"But forget what I think. The UN Child Protection Agency Unicef, their head yesterday described Gaza as the most dangerous place in the world for a child, over 5,000 children have died in Palestine."
Mr Harris added: "If the suggestion is that Irish politicians and the Irish Government don't have a right to articulate their views, I dispute that very clearly."
Mr Harris, who made the initial comments during Leaders' Questions last week, said he had pointed to the horrific loss of life and loss of safety of both Israeli children and Palestinian children.
"It's also about standing up for human rights and the Irish Government's position has been very clear from day one and indeed, the Irish Government's position is now fast becoming the position of many countries, but I'm not going to be silent on the deaths of children. I'm not going to just pretend it's not happening."
Mr Harris told RTÉ's that every parent in Ireland is holding their child tighter these days.
"I can't imagine what it must be like to be a parent of a child in Gaza, or indeed a parent of a child in Israel. This is a war that is disproportionately affecting children. More than 40% of the deaths have been of children."
