Dáil debates
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Priority Questions
Human Rights Issues
3:00 pm
Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 3: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views that the shooting dead by Israeli security forces of at least 13 civilians during the Nakba Day protests was heavy-handed; if he will be raising the issue with the Israeli Ambassador in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14103/11]
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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On Sunday, 15 May there were apparently co-ordinated demonstrations to mark Naqba Day by Palestinians and others in the Occupied Territories and neighbouring countries. On the Lebanese and Syrian borders with Israel and the occupied Golan, groups of some hundreds broke away from larger demonstrations and tried to break through the Israeli border fences. Israeli forces opened fire and 14 demonstrators were killed, ten from Lebanon and four from Syria. There were other incidents on the borders of the West Bank and Gaza and at the Israeli embassy in Cairo.
It is clearly a matter of concern where numbers of demonstrators are killed in circumstances like this and I would, on the face of it, agree with the Deputy that this action seems heavy handed. Demonstrations should not end up in deaths and this applies both to security forces and those organising the demonstrations. Frankly, however, we have no clear picture of what took place, in particular where or why troops opened fire. In Lebanon, UN troops were on the scene and will be submitting a report on what happened. It is also true to say that in Lebanon and certainly in Syria, it would normally be very difficult for such large numbers of demonstrators to make it to the border, which is a very sensitive military zone, and there must be a suspicion that some people may have been deliberately encouraging a confrontation with Israel.
I entirely sympathise with the deep frustration of Palestinians who feel that history is moving all around them in the Middle East while their plight remains unresolved but clearly trying to storm a tense and sensitive military border which has been the site of numerous deadly attacks is very unwise and risks further tragedies and I am also concerned about those who perhaps cynically misdirect the frustrations of ordinary demonstrators in this way.
Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The human rights organisations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called on Israel to launch a thorough and independent inquiry into the killings of the protestors. The Middle East director for Human Rights Watch, Sarah Lee Whitson, stated: "In a too-familiar pattern, Israeli troops responded to stone-throwing youths with live bullets, with predictably deadly consequences... The evidence shows a disturbing disregard for protesters' lives." There is nothing unusual about protests being organised. Protests are regularly organised and advertised in Dublin.
Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy should ask a question.
Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The notion that kids who throw stones could end up dead is unacceptable. If riots in Dublin resulted in two deaths, the reports would be all over the world's media and there would be uproar. Does the Tánaiste not think he should express to the Israeli ambassador his disquiet over the death of 13 or 14 people?
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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It is not okay for 14 people to be killed in a demonstration. It is not okay in any circumstances. I do not condone that in any way. I made it clear in my reply to this question that demonstrations should not end with people dying. I do not care what force was involved. People involved in a demonstration should not be killed.
UN troops were on the scene in Lebanon. UNIFIL and UNDOF troops were present on the Lebanese border and it is possible that UNDOF troops may also have been nearby in Golan. I understand the Lebanese Army was responsible for decisions on that side. It is expected that there will be a report from the UN troops present about what happened. When it becomes available, I will give it a great deal of attention. The matter will be discussed between Ireland and Israel but I would like to see the report first.
Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Ireland has been famous for its neutrality for a long time. We were right to agree with the imposition of sanctions against Syria, even though some people might think I would not favour that. However, I still do not understand why the Israeli ambassador has not been spoken to by the Government to express our disquiet because what happened is unacceptable.
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I have no difficulty conveying our disquiet to the ambassador but I would like to have a much clearer picture of what took place in the incident, which is why I consider that getting the report from the UN troops is important.