Seanad debates

Wednesday, 5 July 2006

6:00 pm

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, and his officials. I support the Labour Party motion and commend the party on giving its time to a discussion on this worthy subject. I have never previously spoken on Middle East affairs in the Seanad and I am pleased to have the opportunity. Along with other Members of the Oireachtas, I had the chance to travel to Israel and Palestine to witness at first-hand some of the difficulties that exist in that part of the world. It was an eye-opener for me.

Senator O'Meara stated she did not have first-hand knowledge of this issue and before that visit I would also have been in that category. One has to see what goes on there to understand the entrenched nature of the difficulties that exist. We have difficulties on this island between North and South and between the different communities contained within the island of Ireland but it is nothing compared to the entrenched nature of the problems in Palestine and Israel.

Leaving Palestine on that occasion I was doubtful about the future development of the area or future co-operation between the two communities because of the level of bitterness that exists. We have had a fair amount of that even in tonight's debate. There is an old saying, "the more heat, the less light". We have had much heat in this discussion and people should reflect more on what they say because this issue will not be resolved by shouting. There are wrongs on both sides and I believe everyone accepts that. There is no use in pointing the finger at either camp and levelling all the blame in one direction because it is clear that this is not the case. That said, issues need to be resolved and I am pleased the Labour Party tabled this motion so we can discuss these issues.

I visited Palestine and Israel last year and I had the opportunity to see at first-hand the difficulties people in both communities, but particularly those in the Palestinian community, experience in their daily lives. The Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, gave a very balanced account of the situation there to the House. He referred to the duty of the Israeli Government to protect its citizens, which everyone would acknowledge. The Minister of State also spoke of the need to protect the civil liberties of the Palestinian people. Many of their civil liberties are abused and all too frequently removed.

On the occasion of the trip to the Middle East last year we had an opportunity to visit Bethlehem which is a place of great significance for Christians, Muslims and Jews. We saw at first-hand the wall that is being built around the city of Bethlehem. Some people who live in the city try to make a living from land they own outside it where they raise animals or tend olive groves. However, given the wall, they can no longer go about these simple tasks as they are restricted in everything they do.

That type of abuse is bound to have repercussions. The area is a fertile breeding ground for people who want to engage in terrorism. The Minister of State touched on this subject. Many of the actions of the Israeli Government have added fuel to the fire and made it easier for terrorist groups to recruit members. If we are to find a resolution we need to see bread and butter issues addressed, such as the construction of the wall — which is more than a wall in some areas — and the extension of water rights. The Palestinian Authority still has enormous difficulty in gaining access to water for their communities in both the West Bank and Gaza.

I could not believe that Palestinians were in most cases not allowed to travel on the main roads even in the occupied territories. They have to use the back roads as all the main roads are blocked off with boulders from the local villages. Thankfully, a number of groups are involved in trying to alleviate the situation. Reference was made to Christian Aid and other Government supported agencies that are trying to help those beleaguered Palestinian communities get on with their lives and have some sort of normality restored.

Previous speakers referred to the crucial role of President Abbas. It is important that we support him. The Government is doing its best in this regard. He is in a most awkward and invidious position in his role as President of the Palestinian Authority. I fully endorse what various speakers on both sides of the House have said on this issue. Members have also spoken about the arrest and detainment of elected public representatives of the Palestinian Authority. These people are being held without any sign of charges being pressed or actions being taken. This is a flagrant abuse of international law and should not be allowed to continue.

I commend the reporting of most of the major media outlets, including RTE, for which Richard Crowley does a very good and balanced job in his reporting of difficulties in this area. That is not an easy job.

Members have expressed concern about Hamas being a majority in the new Palestinian Government. Given the history of that organisation, I too am uneasy about this reality. I agree with Senator Mooney's observation that its constitution is a repugnant document. However, it is in the majority in the democratically elected Government of the Palestinian people and, as such, we must deal with it.

Senator O'Meara is correct that attempts to bomb or starve the Palestinian community to the negotiating table will not succeed. The correct approach is one of co-operation. The Hamas Government had made the first tentative steps towards recognising the state of Israel and moving further down the road to full democratisation of its procedures. There have been some backward steps in the intervening two weeks. I agree with previous speakers that the Palestinian people suffer disproportionately in comparison with the Israeli people. It is in the interests of all, however, to secure a balanced and agreed programme between the two communities so that they can continue to coexist into the future.

When I visited the area, I was struck by its beauty. We would all visit it on a regular basis if it was a secure destination. Standing outside the gate of the Garden of Gethsemane with Senator Leyden, I looked across at the Wailing Wall and the remains of the old temple and further across to the Kedron Valley. These are places with which all of us who are Christian are familiar from those parts of the Bible we remember. There is so much potential in this deeply divided region. We must engage in serious work to ensure there is co-operation between the two communities into the future.

Senator Minihan argued that in its reference to the "disproportionate burden of suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people by the actions of the Government and armed forces of Israel", the Labour Party motion was concerned only with violence inflicted by the Israeli authorities. That is not the case. Senator O'Meara made the point that it matters not from which side the violence comes. All violence must cease, whether it is inflicted by the Israeli Government or by militants on the Palestinian side. The motion is clear in this regard and I fully endorse it.

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