Biden hosts Harris at White House for almost an hour

Irish premier Simon Harris said he made Ireland’s position on the Middle East conflict “very clear” when he met US President Joe Biden

Mr Biden hosted Mr Harris at the Oval Office for just under an hour on Wednesday.

The Taoiseach had previously said the US and other countries should consider what more it can do to bring about a cessation of hostilities – including the supply of arms.

While condemning Hamas’ attacks in October last year, Mr Harris also criticised Israel’s response as “utterly disproportionate”.

Speaking to reporters after the bilateral meeting, Mr Harris said: “Obviously, when it came to Gaza, I made it clear the position of the Irish people, the position of the Irish Government, that we know what it is like in Ireland to not feel seen by the world, that we know what it is like to have our national identity hijacked by a terrorist organisation.

“Because, of course, Palestine is not Hamas. Hamas is a despicable terrorist organisation, and the terrorist attack they carried out in Israel on October 7 of last year should be condemned forever more by all right-thinking people.

“But proportionality has been completely and utterly lost by the Netanyahu government and the number of civilians, particularly as I’ve been speaking about consistently, the number of children needlessly dying as a result of the approach taken by Netanyahu, is unacceptable and that the world, all of us, need to dig deeper and need to do everything within our power to stop the bombings, to stop the killings, and use all levers at the disposal of every country to make that happen.”

Earlier in the day, Mr Biden held a lengthy phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Harris said: “[Mr Biden] left me in no doubt that was a conversation of substance and of depth in terms of actions that Israel needs to take in terms of humanitarian aid and bringing about a ceasefire.

“He left me in absolutely no doubt about the redoubling of efforts by his own administration and others of bringing about a ceasefire.”

A White House readout on the phone call with Mr Netanyahu contained no reference to a ceasefire.

It said that Mr Biden had affirmed his “ironclad commitment” to Israel’s security.

Asked if the issue of a potential US arms embargo on Israel was raised during his conversation with Mr Biden, the Taoiseach said he had “made it clear” that all countries should be doing everything in their power to bring about a ceasefire, and in the case of the United States that included the issue of arming Israel.

“It’s for the President to speak to his conversation with the Prime Minister of Israel, but I’m very clear after my conversation with President Biden that when he spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu today, that it was a very serious conversation of substance about bringing about a cessation of violence,” he said.

“And obviously I made it clear to the president the Irish view, it’s a view I made clear in public and private, that all countries should be doing everything within their capacity to stop the violence.

“Of course, in relation to the United States, that does involve the issue of arming and providing arms and munitions.

“Quite honestly, I’ve left the Oval Office clear in the view that President Biden had a very important conversation with the Prime Minister of Israel today, and I really hope that that yields significant results, because the current situation, the killings, the bombings, the maimings, cannot continue.

“It is utterly disproportionate. And I again made the point to the president that Ireland, of all countries, knows that the only way you bring about peace is through dialogue and a political process.”

Pressed on whether he expressed Ireland’s discomfort with the US continuing to arm Israel, Mr Harris said:

“I’ve made it very clear to President Biden that every country needs to do everything it possibly can to bring about a ceasefire and, in relation to the United States of America, obviously, a part of that is the issue of providing arms to Israel.”

The bilateral meeting came as part of a series of engagements to mark 100 years of Irish-US diplomatic relations.

In addition, Mr Biden and Mr Harris’ meeting included consideration of the war in Ukraine.

The leaders also discussed legacy issues in Northern Ireland, the reset in relations between the UK and Ireland as well as the hurricane hitting Florida.

Mr Biden had apologised to the Taoiseach for a curtailing of his itinerary because of Hurricane Milton.

The Irish leader reiterated “serious concerns” about repeated Israeli incursions of the Blue Line near a UN outpost staffed by Irish peacekeepers.

The Israel Defence Forces also established a position near a UN outpost on the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon which was staffed by the Irish peacekeepers. The Israeli forces have since withdrawn.

The bilateral meeting is the centrepiece of a series of engagements in Washington DC to mark 100 years of Irish-US diplomatic relations.

The US was the first country to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with the Irish Free State in 1924.

The Taoiseach’s schedule includes a range of other political and cultural events.

On Wednesday, he also met USAID administrator Samantha Power, who was raised in Ireland, and attended an event at the US Chamber of Commerce.

On Thursday, Mr Harris will speak at a special event at Georgetown University.

The Taoiseach is also scheduled to meet the US Congress’s Friends of Ireland caucus and Northern Ireland economic envoy Joe Kennedy III.

The schedule for the visit was cut back because of an incoming hurricane.

Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it barrelled towards landfall in Florida on Wednesday.

A reception for invited guests at the Rose Garden has been “postponed” because of the storm.

Noting the incoming hurricane towards the Florida area, Mr Harris added that Ireland’s consulate in Miami is ready to assist any Irish citizen in the affected area.

“Obviously our thoughts are with all of those who are in the path of this hurricane which may well land later today.”

Mr Biden has spoken affectionately about his Irish heritage across his political career.

He was warmly welcomed to Ireland in 2023 for a visit that included retracing some of his ancestral roots in Co Louth and Co Mayo. He received a standing ovation as he addressed the Irish Parliament in Dublin.

The Democrats’ election candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, is expected to be on the campaign trail for the duration of the Taoiseach’s visit.