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

Despite significant international pressure for a ceasefire, Israel continues to conduct intensive military operations in the Gaza Strip. The death toll, as we know, is in excess of 25,000 people, approximately, including many children and their mothers. While the sympathy of the international community sided universally with Israel following the horrendous events in October, Israel's response has already passed the point of exhausting international sentiment. The Irish Government has been right to pursue a common EU approach and I commend the Tánaiste on his tireless work in seeking diplomatic solutions. It is clear the Israeli Prime Minister is in no mood for compromises or negotiated settlements, or even a two-state solution. Time and again his Government advised Palestinians to leave their settlements for alternative areas of refuge, only to raze those same areas to the ground, including hospitals. Does the Israeli Government care for what Ireland thinks? It is clear the Israeli Government has little regard for the views of even its greatest ally. However, others in the world do care for what we think.

While I support the Government's call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, it troubles me greatly what lies beyond such a ceasefire. Is it a simple return to the blanket pummelling of innocent children and women once again? The Tánaiste on his visit to Israel made clear that the view of the Irish Government is that the notion that Hamas can be defeated is fanciful. Israel is no doubt familiar with 800 years of Irish history in that regard, yet Israel persists. The war being waged by Israel is now completely disproportionate and would suggest that its objective is the obliteration of Gaza as a political entity and ensuring that by destroying the infrastructure, Palestinians will no longer be able to live there again. Since the Hamas attack, which I roundly condemn, our Government is playing a role of which we can all be proud. However, for so many people there is still too much talk internationally. The military campaign simply has to stop. We know from recent history that ultimately what shamed another country, South Africa, into change was when the world turned its face away from it.

Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venicecaptured the torment of the Jews of Europe. The powerful sentiments attributed to Shylock can be directly ascribed now to Gaza, 500 years later:

I am a [Palestinian]. Hath

not a [Palestinian] eyes? hath not a [Palestinian] hands, organs,

dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with

the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject

to the same diseases, healed by the same means,

warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer [...]?

If you prick [a Palestinian], do [they] not bleed?

if you tickle [them], do [they] not laugh? if you poison

[them], do [they] not die? and if you wrong [them], shall [they] not

revenge? If [they] are like you in the rest, [they] will

resemble you in that. If [you] wrong a Christian,

what is his humility? Revenge. [So what should]

[the sufferance of a Palestinian be by example?] Why, revenge. The villainy you

teach [Palestinians], [they] will execute, and it shall go hard but [they]

[may] better the instruction.

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