During St Patrick’s Day events in Washington DC, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called for peace in the Middle East and encouraged the United States to collaborate with Ireland in pursuing peace efforts, specifically urging for a ceasefire in Gaza. Varadkar highlighted the US’s historical role in brokering the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland as a model for resolving conflicts and breaking cycles of hatred. Former Irish President Mary Robinson appealed to Varadkar to leverage his discussions with President Joe Biden to seek an end to US military and financial support for Israel, emphasizing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In response, President Biden commended Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for advocating for new elections in Israel and critiquing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an impediment to peace. Biden’s alignment with Schumer underscores a shared concern among Americans regarding the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and emphasizes the US’s commitment to Israel’s defense while pursuing peace and humanitarian aid in the region.

Additionally, President Biden praised the resumption of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland as a constructive development. During bilateral talks, both Biden and Varadkar expressed the importance of this step in upholding the Good Friday Agreement and the strong US-Ireland economic and friendship ties. The leaders also discussed the Israel-Gaza conflict, expressing a unified stance on the necessity of a ceasefire to address the humanitarian crisis and advance towards a two-state solution.

The discussions between Varadkar and Biden in Washington DC underline the significance of international cooperation and diplomacy in addressing global conflicts, from the restoration of governance in Northern Ireland to seeking peace in the Middle East.