Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The International Court of Justice, ICJ, should have ruled in favour of immediate ceasefire but despite its failure to do so, its ruling is a clear defeat for the Israeli regime. The court has found that it has a case to answer for genocide. The Irish Government must now get off the fence and join the South African action without further hesitation. Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to defy the ruling must now be a green light for the stepping up of mass protest worldwide against Israel's rulers and their backers.

Israel's number one backer, President Joe Biden, is due to host St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the White House in six weeks' time. I believe that all Irish politicians and political parties with an invite should refuse to attend. It is a basic act of solidarity. An injury to one is an injury to all. Earlier today, I challenged the Taoiseach on this issue in the Dáil. He should not hand a bowl of shamrock to Genocide Joe Biden in the White House on 17 March. He cannot do it in my name and I am confident in saying he cannot do it in the names of hundreds of thousands, at the very least, of other people in this country.

I must say to the movers of tonight's motion that what applies to the Government must also apply to them. Sinn Féin representatives should not go to the White House on 17 March for a celebration - and it is a celebration, by the way, and not a negotiation - with a President who has given such strong backing to a genocide. The argument that the "Palestinian leadership" are not opposed to the visit is not a strong argument when the reference being made is to Fatah representatives whose support is low in Gaza and in decline in the West Bank, and whose organisation is seen by a large number of Palestinians as both collaborationist and corrupt.

Mr. Omar Barghouti, the founder of the boycott, divestment and sanctions, BDS, movement, has said that no Irish politician should meet Mr. Biden or anyone from his Administration on St. Patrick's Day. More importantly, how does it look to a mother or father in Gaza, a person not in any leadership position who has lost children in this genocide, to see Irish politicians celebrating with the man who financed the bombs that fall from the sky above them? I strongly urge Sinn Féin to change its position and thereby increase pressure on the Government not to go. I strongly urge the Government to join the ICJ case. I also strongly urge people to join the protests and put increased pressure on the Government to join the case.

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