Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to argue over numbers of deaths, but the ambassador tells us that five Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of June, including one 15-year-old boy, the third child to be killed in the village of Beita. We know the International Criminal Court, its staff and the civil organisations that support it are under extreme pressure, because of increasing public criticism of it by England, the leader in England and by Israel itself, among other countries. We know that because former politicians in Ireland signed a letter in relation to the matter.

The EU trades with Israel. The Minister used such strong words regarding gay rights in other countries, which is perfectly correct, but we do not use the same strong language when it comes to what is happening because of the Israeli occupation, illegal by any standard, in its taking over and killing people. I am an absolute supporter of the Jewish nation, and I do not like to have to say that, but what is happening is against all human rights standards. We have got to stand up and say that, while still supporting Israel. We have to stand up and say what it is doing is utterly wrong.

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