Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The agenda of the upcoming European Council meeting paints a grim picture of where priorities lie.

2 o’clock

It clearly shows the one-directional path the EU has chosen to follow, which is a pathway of increased militarisation across the Euro zone. With talk of the EU defence capacity in terms of the procurement, investment and production of weapons in 2021, the EU exported in excess of €179 billion worth of arms. We should be working to reduce, not increase, arms exports. I assume at this meeting there will be no mention of the deadly use of the EU-made weapons on civilians, The indiscriminate use of EU weapons in Palestine has led to death, injury, and loss of limbs of countless civilians. Thirty-nine children have been murdered by apartheid Israel this year so far. Israel clearly violates laws surrounding arms trade but yet the weapons keep on flowing in. Two weeks ago, we saw five killed in Jenin and more than 80 injured. Ambulances rushing to help the injured were targeted by Israeli forces, which is another violation of international law.

When will we see Ireland as a neutral state, using its voice on the European Council as a voice for peace? For decades Ireland was to the fore as a mediator in conflict, working for peaceful solutions, but that voice of Ireland has been silent for too long. We are hiding behind the pretence that Europe is restricting our taking a principled stand on the mayhem, apartheid and terrorism Israel is imposing on Palestinian people.

As an aside, apartheid Israel is where the Irish record goal scorer Robbie Keane is going to manage a football team, Maccabi Tel Aviv. This same state has murdered four children on a beach in the Gaza Strip and has led to the blocking of children coming to Ireland with Gaza Action Ireland to play sport right across the country. The same state that has imposed terror and apartheid. It is recognised by B'Tselem and Amnesty International that Israel is an apartheid state and I ask Robbie Keane to reconsider his decision.

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