Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My question is on the annexation of illegal Israeli colonial settlements in the West Bank. The comments of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the recent election were inflammatory but not surprising. They have swept him to power. The balance of power in the Knesset is now held by smaller right-wing parties and religious parties that have previously sat in coalition with Likud. They will potentially allow Netanyahu to form the next government. These extremists want to formalise the illegal occupation of Palestine, harden Israel's apartheid regime and expand its territory. We cannot brush this aside as being purely an election ploy. Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken out against the two-state solution and Palestinian sovereignty. Not only that, he has also facilitated the increase in the number of illegal colonial settlements. People are asking what will Ireland do and what action will we take. We must end Israel's impunity. It is time for Ireland to stand up and recognise the state of Palestine. We cannot wait any longer. Will the Tánaiste reconsider his refusal to abide by the motion unanimously passed by this House calling for such recognition?

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