Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

First, I send my solidarity to the Palestinian people in the face of the latest onslaught by the Israeli state. At least 12 Palestinians have been murdered, including four children. More than 3,000 people have been forced to leave their homes over recent weeks as the Israeli army assaulted Jenin refugee camp. These people had already lost their homes and been forced to live in a refugee camp through the decades of Israeli apartheid and ethnic cleansing. They are returning now to the destruction that Israel visited on their homes. Some have lost everything. It will take years to rebuild what Jenin has lost and what the people in that refugee camp lost.

What we saw over recent weeks was the targeting of civilian lives and livelihoods by one of the most advanced, strongest and best equipped militaries in the world. This is just another step on the road of Israel's programme to occupy and annex the entirety of the West Bank. There is no room for Palestinians in this plan. What we are watching is the destruction of the Palestinian people. This is being carried out not just by the destruction and bloodshed we saw in Jenin from the Israeli armed forces but also the ongoing blockade and starving of Gaza, the encroaching settlements in the West Bank and the cleansing of Palestinians in West Jerusalem. Many have been removed by court order from homes their families have lived in for decades.

It is time to step up and be counted on this issue. There is deep solidarity in this country for the Palestinian people. The Irish people supported Dunnes Stores workers when they took the first steps in boycotting apartheid South Africa. They support a boycott of apartheid Israel. Our Government has a mandate to resist the cleansing and oppression going on in Palestine. There can be no more playing both sides on this and no more condemning both sides like this is an equal struggle. We have watched Israel destroy the possibility of a one-state solution and even the possibility of a two-state solution, whatever that meant. We are now watching Israel destroy any chance of peace and any chance of freedom for Palestine. This needs to be stopped before it is too late. The Government must recognise Palestinian statehood, bring the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 through Committee Stage, and start a programme of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel so no more Irish money goes towards this horror show. We should no longer have any part in Israel's programme of apartheid and ethnic cleansing. It is no longer acceptable to stand by while we see the destruction of an entire world. The Government should prepared to say "Boo".

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