Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I oppose the agreement, which ignores many of the problems the State and the EU has had with the behaviour of Israel. At present Israel continues to occupy Palestine and enforce an illegal blockade on Gaza, making it effectively the largest prison camp in the world. Israel denies sufficient humanitarian aid thus causing the most horrible deprivation and preventing rebuild following the onslaught of the Israeli Army. Israel has shown complete disdain and disregard for human rights and international law. I am not anti-Israeli and I believe Israel has the right to exist. I also believe the Palestinians have the right to exist. This state, the EU and its member states have spoken out strongly against these abuses and are fully aware of them, but we continually reward Israel with economic agreements and deals, unavailable to most states neighbouring the EU.

In 2001 Israel destroyed Yasser Arafat International Airport in Gaza. The airport, run by the Palestinian Authority, opened in 1998 was bombed by the Israeli Army. The airport was built with funding from EU member states, as well as other countries, and the total cost was $86 million. Israeli bulldozers cut the runway apart in January 2002. After the destruction of Gaza airport by the Israeli Army, the International Civil Aviation Organization condemned Israel for the destruction of a civilian airport and navigational devices used for civilian purposes only. Israel's justification was that it might be attacked from this airport, as it was the best equipped in Gaza. The only remaining runway in Gaza after 2002 is that of the Gaza airstrip, but an Israeli air blockade of Gaza prevents it from being used. Israel also controls the airspace. Why do we reward any country that would block off another, impose severe restrictions on its population and deny the basic right of freedom of movement to another country nearby? The Palestinians have no proper airport and just a strip that is restricted by the Israelis.

However, the EU believes it is appropriate to sign an aviation agreement with Israel. The agreement completely ignores the crimes against the rights of Palestinians to travel freely in and out of their own country. It also ignores Israel's crimes of destroying civilian transport facilitates in Gaza and the West Bank, facilities which were funded by EU member states. The agreement will strengthen ties with Israel and create opportunities for industry and consumers, but it ignores the rights it is denying another country nearby. For that reason, we should not sign up to any agreement that would benefit Israel until it is brought into line with proper international practices and it recognises the rights of the Palestinian people.