Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

This issue arose from two incidents, the visit of the ambassador of Israel to Carrickmacross and then the decision of Carrickmacross Town Council to remove the page which he had signed from the distinguished visitors book. I regret the decision to remove the page and the nature of the protest on the day of the ambassador's visit.

When an ambassador visits a town, he or she should be welcomed and treated with respect in a way that reflects their status as a diplomat and personal dignity. This does mean that one necessarily approves of the policies of his or her government. I met very many people in Carrickmacross at the weekend and they all believe that the ambassador should have been shown such respect and courtesy.

I understand the feelings shared by all the members of Carrickmacross Town Council and I too feel strongly about the injustices which we see in Gaza and the West Bank on a continuing basis. I met the Israeli ambassador when he visited Carrickmacross on that day and spent one hour in discussion with him. I was glad of the opportunity to have such discussion and impressed on him the seriousness of Ireland's engagement on the issue of concern.

I have visited the Middle East twice over the past two years. Last July, I was a member of a delegation from the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs which visited Gaza at the invitation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, where we met its director, Mr. John Ging. During that visit we saw, at first hand, the ongoing dire humanitarian consequences for the civilian population as a result of the ongoing Israeli blockade. We published a report on our visit and set out in direct and unambiguous terms our view that it is not reasonable or right for Israel to use the complexity of the issues involved as justification for allowing the intolerable humanitarian conditions which prevail in the West Bank and, more particularly, in Gaza to continue.

I have no qualms about being direct and honest in criticising Israel where appropriate. I have supported the findings of the Goldstone report, which calls on Israel and the relevant Palestinian authorities to launch appropriate investigations into allegations of war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict which are independent and in conformity with international standards. I wish to see an end to violence on both sides.

I spoke out in this House when Israel forcibly returned to Gaza a young Bethlehem university student, Berlanty Assam, without just cause. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and the vast majority of Members in this House actively support a two-state solution which would provide peace and security on both sides in the Middle East. This can only happen through a negotiated settlement. We know better than most in Northern Ireland the futility of overreaction and the politics of the last atrocity, and it was when Senator George Mitchell came to Ireland and that dialogue commenced seriously that we made progress. I wish him the same success in the Middle East as he had here.

I cannot support the obliteration of the name of the Israeli ambassador from the records of Carrickmacross Town Council. The political way forward is dialogue and negotiation. We must uphold democracy and principles of respecting the right to meet and to listen to those with whom we may not always agree politically. We have a responsibility to remain engaged and to remain committed to finding a solution in the Middle East. Refusing to recognise and respect the ambassador of Israel will not in any way contribute to that goal.

See this speech in context