Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Two weeks ago on 19 October the Israeli defence minister formally designated human rights organisation Al-Haq and five other Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organisations under Israeli law. The other five are Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defense for Children International Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees. Let us be clear about this. This is about shutting down legitimate criticism of Israeli human rights abuses. Israel's charge against the six NGOs, which include groups that offer legal support to prisoners and a women's rights organisation, is based on a connection to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, PFLP. This claim has been made by apartheid Israel for many years and it is untrue. There is absolutely no evidence to back up the claim these organisations are involved in terrorism. For any state to be able to change policy in this way would suggest apartheid Israel is growing in confidence it can do what it wants. Apartheid Israel is becoming increasingly confident it can do what it wants and there will be no consequences for anything it does. Let us be clear apartheid Israel's actions are increasingly making a two-state solution less and less likely. The chance of a two-state solution is disappearing on Ireland's watch on the UN Security Council.

I welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney's additional €2.4 million allocation to fund UN bodies working in Palestine. However, to be brutally honest, it feels like guilt money because the Government is not willing to recognise the state of Palestine or even to pass the occupied territories Bill put forward by Senator Black. If we genuinely want to support Palestine we must make significant acts like recognising the state of Palestine and supporting the occupied territories Bill. We need concrete action on the six designated organisations and we need clarity. We need an official public statement from the Minister for Foreign Affairs that categorically denounces the terror designation and removes all deference to Israel. We need to send public messages to the Irish banks that Ireland does not recognise the terror designations and ensure the open exchange of transactions between Irish entities and the organisations and their staff members. This will have implications for Irish citizens and relations with Palestine and Palestinian advocacy groups. In light of the unprecedented attack against Palestinian civil society, Ireland must ensure increased funding to these six civil society organisations.

It is important to state Al-Haq regards Jerusalem in its entirety as Palestinian as there is no recognition of the illegal acts of annexation in 1949 in west Jerusalem and in 1967 in east Jerusalem. It is equally important to note the Minister, Deputy Coveney, insinuated during his recent visit to apartheid Israel that Ireland might at some point recognise Israel's sovereignty over west Jerusalem and even consider moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This was reported in The Jerusalem Postand it was unclear so we need clarity from the Minister on it. Will the Minister clarify that Palestinians have a continuing right to self-determination and that the 1949 annexation was an illegal act under international law for which there can be no recognition. We must stand with the six designated organisations.

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