Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, like other speakers, was horrified at the latest attack by Israel on protesters last weekend, as well as other attacks in recent weeks, which have left over 100 dead and many thousands wounded. I was not surprised at all, however. I have seen how the Israeli State treats and views the Palestinians. I have seen how, over the years, it has sought to colonise, conquer and extinguish the Palestinian people. I visited refugee camps in Palestine and saw the official and unofficial settler policy. I saw how people were moved out of their own homes and how villages were made uninhabitable to ensure the Palestinians were unable to harvest their own land and forced to leave due to starvation. I saw the settler roads on which no Palestinian was allowed drive. I saw ghost towns struggling to survive. I saw Israeli troops menacing Palestinians and others who took the Palestinian side. I saw the huge concrete walls, 40 ft in height, built around Palestinian towns to ensure those who service the land in them could not get to it. I saw the buffer zone and the confiscation of water tables which meant that the survival of towns in Palestine was near impossible. I saw the queues of farmers trying to get their crops to market being forced to sit out in the sun for hours while their crops rotted away. Once rotten and no use to the market, the farmers were then let through the checkpoints.

I spoke to Palestinian fishermen in the territory of Gaza who come under regular gun attack when they try to fish, even within the boundaries set by Israel. I spoke with those who lost limbs because of the attacks by Israeli gunboats which regularly interfere with their attempts to land fish in Gaza. I saw the destruction brought on Gaza by attacks, even before Operation Cast Lead, in what is the equivalent of an open mass prison. I saw the failed water, roads, hospitals and educational infrastructure. I am proud of my meagre attempts to break the siege of Gaza. I am proud I was among those who were on the last boat to dock and last to leave Gaza Port in November 2008.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade challenged us that our call for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador was no more than an empty gesture and would serve no purpose. It is not an empty gesture. It is the same call of the Palestinians. It would not be empty if it were followed by a series of other measures which the State can take. Other Members spoke about the recognition of the Palestinian state. All the Taoiseach has to say in this Chamber are five words. Can one imagine the lift that would give to the Palestinian people if Ireland, a country which was colonised and brutalised over centuries, was willing to stand up for their rights? It could be followed up by a demand by Ireland that the EU review its preferential treatment agreement with Israel and that trade cannot happen while Israel abuses the human rights of the Palestinian people. It could be followed up by boycotting the purchase of Israeli weapons and the end of dual-use goods sales between Ireland and Israel. It could be followed up by the immediate end to settler goods being brought into and sold in Ireland. It could involve the disinvestment of any Irish companies from any Israeli companies or properties. There could be no State contracts for companies which invest in or trade with Israel. As others have said, we should consider ending our participation in the Eurovision and the European football championship while Israel is still involved. These events legitimise the attacks perpetuated by Israel last week and before.

Will the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade not look at empty gestures but a whole series of gestures which will send out the message that we are willing to stand up for the rights of small nations and those under attack by other nations, as well as the dehumanising of the Palestinian people and the ending of their human rights by the Israelis? I urge the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to look at the example we gave when we were to the fore in ending the apartheid regime in South Africa.

3 o’clock

As a small nation we can set the lead. We should not wait until some other country in the EU takes a stance. We should be out front setting the standard for others to follow rather than crawlers coming behind all the others.

See this speech in context