Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The motion before us is not ideal. At its heart it recognises that negotiations will be needed to achieve the two-state solution it promotes. Having said that, there is much in the text of the motion that is fair and reflective of a middle ground. I am aware that Deputy Adams met with the leader of the Israeli Labor Party, Isaac Herzog, during his visit to Israel and Palestine last week. Mr. Herzog had as a central plank of his campaign last year to be elected leader that he would put the achievement of peace at the top of his party's agenda. I was very disappointed, however, by his stance on the Israeli violence in Gaza and the appalling deaths of civilians there. Nevertheless, I welcome Mr. Adams's willingness to meet with people from both sides, including Mr. Herzog. I understand the Deputy has also met with diplomats from the Israeli Embassy on this island.

Deputy Adams has much experience to share with those on both sides. I was Chair of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement when it was addressed by Senator George Mitchell, who spoke briefly about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He stressed that each conflict is unique and requires its own local solution. However, Senator Mitchell also referred to how the Northern Ireland peace process is held up as a shining example throughout the world, including in the Middle East, and stated that on one visit to Stormont he met 12 Palestinian activists who were there to learn from MLAs and political leaders about the peace process experience in the North.

The conflict under discussion is complex in nature. It has a long history and there has been much suffering on both sides. The EU has played a role in this regard, both in terms of the Holocaust and its approach to the refugees from the latter. Ireland has a very poor record on this matter. That is why I believe that the EU should act collectively and try to help both sides to move towards furthering the peace process. I very much agree with the approach of the Government, which was outlined last night, to engage in a reflective response following the passing of this motion. I agree that there must be an EU consensus. The European Union needs to draw both peoples closer to it. The EU must work with them to build capacity - the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, outlined some of the projects with which Ireland is involved in the area of Palestinian education - and act as an honest broker in the peace process.

I am very much opposed to campaigns to boycott Israel. Perhaps it is time for Sinn Féin to adopt the kind of nuanced approach outlined in the motion, reject calls for boycotts of Israel and work with both sides. Within these Houses and operating under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, there are parliamentary friendship groups. These groups have relationships with many parliaments across the globe, including those in Israel and Palestine. I am a member of one such group in this Parliament and I have received huge flak for that as if the group in question is some kind of cabal of friends of Israel and involves a worldwide conspiracy. That is not true. The Inter-Parliamentary Union recommends that we have such groups in our Parliament and that we become involved in friendships with parliaments in countries in which there is conflict. We should build on the work being done in this regard. I would welcome any Sinn Féin involvement with the work in question.

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