John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for joining us this afternoon. Before commenting further and posing some questions, I would like to offer the ambassador and the Palestinian people my condolences, and those of my party, Sinn Féin, in regard to the slaughter of the 25 innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip last night. I understand from various media reports that between six and nine of those murdered were children. I also condemn the provocation by the Israelis in terms of their actions in East Jerusalem, and the attack and assault on the al-Aqsa Mosque as well. The inaction of the international community has empowered and emboldened Israel in the outworking of its illegal policy of colonial expansion into Palestinian lands. The ICC investigation into war crimes by Israel is significant, as is the announcement by Israel that it will not co-operate with that investigation. The recent reports from a number of human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, that find the Israeli authorities are committing crimes against humanity, and of apartheid and persecution, are also significant.

Mr. Meehan outlined that waiting for Israel to announce de jureannexation of West Bank settlements, as they have done in East Jerusalem, is no longer an acceptable response to grave breaches of international law, of which we heard already, and the fundamental rights of Palestine. No government in the world can hide behind that false argument. That response allows Israel to continue its core plan, which as referenced by a number of our guests, is to take as much Palestinian land as possible with as few Palestinians as possible and to pen into enclaves as many Palestinians as possible, as we have seen in the Gaza Strip and in a number of other areas, as referenced by Dr. Erakat. Since 1967, more than 250 settlements have been established throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem and these are inhabited by more than 650,000 settlers. As a committee, we need to reflect on that and raise questions about it with the Israeli ambassador in our meeting with him on Thursday. I agree with all of our speakers that words of condemnation are no longer enough. We need a response from the international community that will stop the destruction of the Palestinian people.

I would like to pose a number of specific questions to our witnesses, starting with the ambassador. In her view, what should Ireland and the wider community do now? We have heard what measures should be taken, but what specifically should Ireland as a country, a member of the EU and a member of the UN Security Council do? What should the parties within the Oireachtas, as Ireland's lawmakers do? What does the ambassador believe the Irish people can do at this time to stop the ethnic cleansing and the apartheid system and policies being perpetrated on the Palestinian people by the Israelis?

I have two other specific questions. Our witnesses have outlined that de facto annexation has taken place in much of the West Bank. I ask Dr. Power to clarify where in international law de facto annexation is recognised. That is an important question. I have posed it to numerous Ministers and people, but they tend to hide behind different words and terminology. I would welcome a comment from Dr. Power on where in international law de facto annexation is recognised.

The breaches of international law and the deteriorating situation in Jerusalem were outlined in the presentations. We are seeing the situation in East Jerusalem and the imminent evictions in Sheikh Jarrah play out before our eyes. I ask Dr. Power in the first instance to outline what range of countermeasures are available to the international community by way of response, but other witnesses may also respond. I know we are caught for time, but I would ask that the witnesses comment briefly on what role the current toxic atmosphere that surrounds domestic politics within Israel is playing in stoking the tensions that led to the unrest in East Jerusalem and the West Bank?

I, again thank all of our witnesses for joining us this afternoon.