Israel’s response goes “beyond self-defense,” says Varadkar; Jason Corbett’s first wife ‘did not die of an asthma attack’ – The Irish Times

Israeli war resembles ‘close revenge’, says Taoiseach

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Israel’s response to the Hamas attack on October 7 was “more like revenge.”

Speaking to reporters in the South Korean capital Seoul, Mr Varadkar said collective punishment was a violation of international law and that Israel’s response to the attacks had gone beyond self-defense.

“I think it’s very important that we never forget where this all started. This phase of the conflict began with a Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,400 civilians, including one person who had dual Israeli-Irish citizenship. I firmly believe that Israel, like every state, has the right to defend itself and take action against Hamas so that it cannot do something like this again. But what I’m seeing now isn’t just self-defense. It looks like it’s more like revenge.”

Israel-Hamas conflict

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letters To the editor

Michael O’Leary welcomes paying vegans

Sir, – Michael O’Leary made his views clear on “veganism, rewilding and other eco-crazy nutjob campaigns” earlier this year.

On a recent flight from Venice to Cork, I noticed vegan lasagna on the menu. It’s reassuring to know he has no problem paying vegans. We must belong to a different category. – Yours etc.

JOAN BURGESS, Cork.

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