Recognising Palestine does not mean recognising Hamas - Micheál Martin

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said the decision to recognise Palestine as a State is not a decision to legitimise Hamas.
The Government announced earlier this morning it would take steps to recognise the Palestinian on May 28th.
The decision was made, according to the Tánaiste in coordination with Norway and Spain, who will also announce their recognition today.
Mr Martin said this decision, as Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz suggested, shows that “terrorism pays”.
“Recognition does not involve recognition of a government, it's recognition of a State,” he told The Pat Kenny Show.
“That applies to every State that we recognise around the world.
“Our policies and diplomatic engagement can very much evolve in criticising Governments
“We've been very consistently calling for reform of Palestine.”
Hamas is a terrorist organisation which has been strengthened by “Israeli strategy and policy”, according to the Tánaiste.
“We see this [recognition] very much as endeavouring to implore moderation,” he said.
Mr Martin explained the recognition of Palestine involves upgrading Palestinian representatives to that of an official embassy rather than a “mission”.
He noted that Hamas, who governs the Gaza Strip, does not form part of the Palestinian authority in Ireland.
Instead, Mr Martin emphasised the role of the leaders of the ‘State of Palestine’ declared in 1988, including newly-appointed Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.
“I spoke to [Mr Mustafa] yesterday,” he said. “They have an ambitious programme for reform.
“There is a clear mood now that in the aftermath of this war, that there will be a technocratic Government installed in Gaza, that would administer and govern Gaza.
“The agenda will be on the reconstruction of Gaza [and] a new Government needs to come in.”
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