Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

International trade agreements should never be at the cost of human rights and their promotion or at the cost of the freedoms that societies enjoy, yet we have seen in those which were signed between Europe and Israel that there is a casual ignoring of those provisions by Israel. They seem to be emboldened over the years to ignore them because there have been no consequences even though Article 2 of the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement, which was established as an association between the European Communities and the State of Israel, stated that relations between the parties as well as all of the provisions of the agreement shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles that guide the internal and international policy and constitute an essential element of the agreement.

Article 79 of the same agreement begins, "If either Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under the Agreement, it may take appropriate measures." Yet when in 2002, the European Parliament voted to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement in response to gross human rights violations by Israel then in Jenin and Nablus, the European Commission failed to take any action. That has been the case since. Even when there is a renewed partnership with the southern neighbourhood, a new agenda for the Mediterranean, which falls within the European neighbourhood policy through which Israel benefits from deeper bilateral association, all its provisions are being ignored. The Treaty on the European Union is being ignored as is the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Every time Israel knows Europe will not take action to implement its own provisions. Israel has been emboldened. It has been emboldened to the stage where it has carried out renewed large-scale murderous and genocidal attacks on civilians, the destruction of infrastructure, hospitals, roads, and civilians and their homes. It is collective punishment. We are now in the third decade where Israel is inflicting collective punishment against those living in the Gaza region of Palestine.

Starvation of the population is clear. Israel is preventing food from getting into a war zone where people are dying of starvation. It is allowing the spread of disease. It has been responsible for the deaths of over 50,000 people at this stage and has been responsible for the targeting of UN facilities, not only in Gaza but elsewhere. Israel has stood over the equivalent of a medieval siege. Its respect for international law is nowhere to be seen in any of its actions in recent years or maybe before. In fact, it rejects it totally as we can see in its approach to the International Criminal Court. It has even breached the limited ceasefire which was in place and which gave people some hope that those who were injured, dying or starving in Gaza would have some respite but there was no such thing. The murderous genocidal Government has unleashed horrific attacks in the last couple of days. There must be full sanctions against Israel on a par with those imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine and its attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The Zionist Government’s scorched-earth policy of slaughter in Palestine cannot be allowed to continue. There must be a reinstated and enhanced ceasefire which allows food and medical supplies to immediately get in to the people who are suffering. The Palestinian people must be allowed to draw up a plan for the rebuilding of this proud city with the help of other nations. They must be allowed to receive help from outside to rebuild their lives. The EU must become guarantor or advocate in the same way it has been an advocate for Ukraine. The EU needs to be an advocate for Palestine. We have standing internationally because of our neutral stance in wars around the world to such a degree that people recognise the sacrifice of upwards of 47 Irish soldiers in UN missions. That can be jeopardised if we do not stand up and take action.

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