John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is not a debate I was going to contribute on. It is not that I do not feel I have anything to say. It is just that I have heard the same speeches being made again and again over the years. I share the frustration of my colleagues in opposition.

I am also very proud of the tradition of my own party. I am also conscious that this week we celebrated the life and passing of a great Irish Jew, Ben Briscoe, who was a member of Fianna Fáil. Both he and his father served Parliament continuously for 75-odd years in Dublin. I often wonder what he might make of this. I enjoy my history and so when I hear questions asked about Europe and its response to Israel, I cannot help but invoke that history of the Jews of Europe. Already I can see eyes being rolled and eyebrows being raised. It is not an attempt to side with anybody or bring a bit of balance. I am just saying this is one of the important contexts that never gets mentioned here. It is just a fact. It is not a bias. It is a historical fact that resulted in the establishment of the state of Israel.

I also see where there are some elements in common in terms of Irish history and Palestinian history - that a state can be established without you having a particular say in it. The victors in history tend to divide the spoils and that is the way it has happened.

Through its embassies around the world, including Dublin, Israel needs to start a conversation with public representatives and needs to start a continuing conversation. I grew up in a generation where the idea of going to work on a kibbutz in Israel was a strong possibility and an opportunity for Irish teenagers. I do not think any Irish teenager would consider engaging with one of them now. That is how much the situation has changed and how dramatically attitudes to Israel have changed.

So as I am not misunderstood, I repeat the points that have been made by the Tánaiste and other Government representatives regarding its commitment to a two-state solution, which is the only solution, while also recognising the desire of some states surrounding Israel to see its complete annihilation.

Violence, particularly that perpetuated by state machinery and armoury, is completely is unacceptable. This can only end in the further isolation of Israel, and as the Tánaiste said in his contribution, a further move away from a two-state solution. The harder Israel embeds itself and moves even further to the right in terms of its response to Palestinians, the further we get away from a two-state solution and the further you get away from a two-state solution, the more danger Israel brings on itself.

I am conscious of time so that is my brief contribution. I thank my colleague for facilitating it.

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