Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on this. I have just over three minutes so I want to be as precise as possible.

First, I welcome the Palestinian ambassador, who in recent months has acted with utter professionalism in the face of genocide and the slaughter of her people. I have found her at every stage to be utterly professional while full of humanity in contrast to the spokespeople for the Israeli Government who on occasions have been given free rein on our media and exercised their right, which I question seriously, to push propaganda and a particular version of events.

We are here today and I welcome it as a momentous day. As I said earlier, it has come much later than I would have liked but it has come and it is a day to be recognised. I thank the Government for doing that and for raising the Palestinian flag. It follows the General Assembly resolution of 10 May, which determined that Palestine is now qualified for membership of the UN; at which 143 countries were in favour, nine against and 25 abstained.

I would have liked today, in addition to the good news and positive designation of the recognition of Palestine as a state that we would follow that with the actions we will take because otherwise, they are just sweet words that are worth nothing. As we talk here now, I understand from news reports that there has been a further bombing on a tented community. People who have already been displaced and sought refuge in tents are being bombed as we speak. I have come near the stage where I have no words left. I am tired of the sweet words and no action. We are constantly waiting for Europe and Europe has distinguished itself by standing in solidarity with the Government which, through its military, is carrying out a genocide. Von der Leyen, in the name of Europe, said we stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel and our Government is willing to vote for her to continue in her position. I would ask the Minister of State to reflect on that. How is that possible if our words are going to mean something? Then there is the occupied territories Bill that has been in abeyance since 2018, which was tabled by the courageous Senator Black, as well as other legislation. We have the trading agreement still in existence, through Europe. Europe and Israel are still trading and we keep saying we have to wait but we cannot wait any longer because we will have nobody alive in Palestine. I would love to throw down these words and I wish the Government would throw down their scripts and stand up as human beings and say “This is utterly wrong”. This cannot go on. This is not self defence. This is complete slaughter of the innocent and we are part of that if we do not take action. I have here a response to questions I have tabled on what we are exporting. On dual-use export authorisations, in one year, we have gone from €7.7 million in exports to Israel to €70.4 million in one year. Can the Minister of State explain that to me? What is behind that jump? If we are seriously interested in calling Israel to account for its slaughter and for its genocide, how could we be continuing to do trade with that country?

I will finish by saying that I will have nothing to do with antisemitic comments. They are not the same at all as calling out the Israeli Government for what it is doing.

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