Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will speak in favour of our nation's decision to recognise the right of Palestinians to exist in their own state. In 1980, it was my party that led Ireland to become the first EU member state to declare that a solution to the conflict in the Middle East lay in a two-state solution under which a fully independent Palestine and an independent Israel could coexist.

As time has passed, in particular in recent days, I am encouraged by the words of An Tánaiste, Deputy Martin, who said the recognition of Palestine today is not the end of the process but the beginning. The recognition of Palestine today by Ireland, Norway and Spain may give impetus to ensure a solution can be found to the slaughter that is happening there daily.

It is important to highlight that Ireland's decision today is not misrepresented as a hostile act to the State of Israel. Ireland's acknowledgement today of Palestine's right to exist and the Palestinian people's right to self-determination is not a hostile act against the Israeli Government, as the Foreign Minister has said repeatedly in media at home. Our actions are an endorsement of our position that the solution to this conflict lies in two states, two equals sitting round a table and coming to a peaceful resolution. We know only too well from our own troubled past that hate begets hate and violence begets violence.

The Government in its move today has stated unequivocally that we reject violence, subordination and exclusion and we reject the extremes in Israel and Palestine that caused this conflict and now prolong it. What happened on 7 October is to be condemned unequivocally for its savagery and brutality. What is unfolding before our eyes in Palestine today is military savagery. It is the violent subordination of a generation of Palestinians.

A new pathway is now needed to ensure the international community rallies to endorse the right of Palestinians to self-determination. If our actions today symbolically demonstrate to the Israeli Government that the world is watching, is appalled and wants a peaceful resolution, then it will have served its purpose. Today's decision is not a reward for terrorism, as the Israeli Prime Minister intimated in a recent video statement. Rather, it is a plea to stop the violence, warmongering and retribution. It is a call to a leader who has clearly overstepped and is now subject to action by the ICC to stop the bombing of hospitals, schools and accommodation, the massacre of the innocents and deal with legitimate Palestinian representatives to bring a lasting peace where the young of both sides can coexist. There can be no military solution to this conflict and any further military action needs to be roundly condemned and repudiated utterly.

The question emanating from today is whether this first step by three European nations will trigger momentum across Western Europe for others to follow suit. Initial reactions from Germany and Britain look ominous, but the concession by Emmanuel Macron that the French may be open to reviewing its position is encouraging. After recent strikes in Rafah, President Macron tweeted that he was outraged and called for respect for international law. What better way to demonstrate that outrage than recognising the right to statehood for those aggrieved parties being bombed in makeshift encampments and the displaced Palestinians of Rafah?

There is a degree of unity this evening and a feeling that our Government has done right by us today. Nonetheless, it needs to be said that we are late to the table. Ireland, Norway and Spain are now among 145 nations that recognise the right of the Palestinian state to exist. While that is profoundly welcome, that cannot be the endpoint as the Tánaiste intimated in his speech. We now need to reassess how we do business with the Israeli state and conduct diplomacy with that state. If, as the Tánaiste indicated, and I firmly believe him, this is not the endpoint, we now need to pressure and leverage other EU members to follow suit. The next logical move is to follow through with the review of the EU-Israel association agreement and ensure that repercussions for Israel follow if the bombardment of Gaza continues.

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