“Stop firing on UN peacekeepers,” Ireland’s PM tackles Israeli forces

An appeal has gone to Israel to “ heed the concerns of the international community” and not repeat recent attacks on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris gave the charge in a statement on Saturday.

His latest remarks on the recent incidents that have triggered a diplomatic faceoff.

“Israel must stop firing on UN peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon,” Ireland’s leader said.

“Israel must listen to the voice and the concerns of the international community,” he added.

While none of the Irish soldiers deployed to Lebanon was hurt, Harris, who visited US President Joe Biden, said in the statement that he and Biden “agreed that those who serve in Blue Helmets on behalf of the UN must always be afforded full protection.”

Ireland has deployed 347 of the 10,000 soldiers serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, which is charged with maintaining peace in the south of Lebanon.

Recall that Israel has been in the eye of the storm after reporting that its forces fired at a threat near a UNIFIL position in Lebanon Friday, acknowledging that a “hit” was responsible for wounding two Blue Helmets.

The mission said two Sri Lankan peacekeepers were hurt at UNIFIL’s main base in Naqura, southern Lebanon.