Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank colleagues for their contributions. I join Deputy Haughey and others in very much welcoming the overwhelming vote at the UN General Assembly on ensuring that Palestine can and should be a member of the United Nations. I also take this opportunity to commend our own diplomats at the United Nations led by our ambassador, Fergal Mythen, on the incredible work they do in speaking up for Ireland but also in speaking up for human rights and speaking up for the rule of international law. They did us proud this week.

I assure everybody that the Tánaiste and I continue our efforts to recognise the state of Palestine because I believe that recognition now can help. Four countries, Slovenia, Malta, Ireland and Spain, have publicly said in various forums that they wish to recognise the state of Palestine. I am very conscious that each country has its own processes to go through. Therefore, the sequencing of that is a matter for each country to consider. I am confident that there are a number of countries, including the ones I have named, that have publicly stated their wish to do this. I spoke to the Slovenian Prime Minister this week. I hope to speak to Maltese Prime Minister this week. I hope to speak to the Norwegian Prime Minister in the coming days. I will speak to the king of Jordan tomorrow. The Tánaiste and I along with our teams are continuing our diplomatic efforts on this recognition. I would like to see us recognise the state of Palestine this month. I want us to be as co-ordinated as we can be.

In response to Deputies Ó Murchú and Farrell, I am extremely concerned over what we are seeing in Rafah. I am extremely concerned that Israel has now begun very large-scale military strikes. The protection of civilians is an obligation under international humanitarian law. Approximately 1.5 million people are sheltering in Rafah in desperate conditions. Notwithstanding the evacuation orders from the Israeli military, the reality is there is nowhere safe for these people to go. The international community has made it very clear that an Israeli military attack operation, we can call it what we wish, in Rafah will inevitably lead to devastating humanitarian consequences and to the deaths of a very large number of innocent civilians. Again, this country today urges Israel to cease its operations in Rafah immediately. That is what we continue to say at all international forums and in working with international partners. There needs to be an avoidance of any further escalation. Israel must facilitate safe unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza including through the Rafah crossing.

I agree on the rights of people and where we get to in a two-state solution. However, I believe we can arrive at a two-state solution through a political peace process. Countries like Ireland recognising the state of Palestine is a very important marker in being very clear to the world, as Deputy Farrell points out, that the international community will see a two-state solution as the only acceptable outcome. There are people in the Israeli Government seeking to walk away from and undermining - these are massive understatements - that commitment to the two-state solution.

In all our discourse we should differentiate between the Netanyahu administration and the Israeli people. There are many people in Israel and in the Middle East who want to live side by side in peace, security and prosperity with a state of Israel and a state of Palestine. We should not allow Netanyahu to become the embodiment of the Israeli people.

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