Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also want to raise the issue of Palestinian rights. Indeed, two weeks ago, I called on the Government to take a strong stance in defence of Palestinian rights. Conditions have worsened since, as we have seen the new far-right Netanyahu government in Israel, which took office at the start of the year, take even further steps to trample on the rights of the Palestinian people and, indeed, take further steps to undermine democracy in Israel also, with concerning plans to meddle with the judicial system. Indeed, we saw at the weekend a mass demonstration of nearly 100,000 people outside the Knesset protesting against plans to undermine the independence of the judiciary there.

The same Israeli Government has introduced draconian security clampdowns in Palestinian areas in Jerusalem and the West Bank and we have seen the expansion of illegal settlements with reports of 5,000 new settler homes being planned. It appears the current government has no interest in a two-state state and, indeed, no interest in pursuing peace. The state itself in Israel, it appears, has been captured by the far right and we have seen appalling deaths already. At least 40 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by army fire this year alone.

I am asking how can Ireland, and the EU indeed, maintain trade relations with a country that is carrying on like this. Will the Taoiseach and his Government take on Senator Francis Black's Bill to ban the import of goods from illegal settlements and from occupied territories, as we, in Labour, and others across the Opposition have called for?

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