Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I have welcomed the Minister's stance on Israel in the past, but on this occasion I express my disappointment which will undoubtedly be shared by other supporters of Palestine. Given his statement to The New York Times on 5 March that the "medieval siege conditions" being imposed on Gaza are unacceptable, how could he agree or assent to Israel's membership of an organisation which is supposed to be committed to fundamental values, including a pluralist society based on the rule of law and respect for human rights? How does his acceptance of Israel's membership of the OECD square with the view he expressed in the Dáil that the effective isolation of Gaza constituted "collective punishment" and was illegal under international humanitarian law? It beggars belief that a country that has been censored internationally to such a degree and consistently ignored that censorship should become part of the OECD. Why should less stringent criteria apply in respect of membership of that organisation than is the case in regard to Israel's membership of or trade agreements with other international organisations?

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