Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I thank the Leader for arranging this debate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs at such short notice. As my party colleague Deputy Higgins said in the other House, we have reached a turning point this week in the Middle East. This has been brought about by the illegal actions of the Israeli armed forces in the storming of the flotilla bound for Gaza and the ensuing deaths of so many unarmed aid workers. I express my condolences to the families of the deceased and wish the best recovery for those injured in the attack.

The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, described the attack as a bloody massacre, an attack on international law, the conscience of humanity and on world peace. The Israelis, however, have tried to defend their actions claiming they were unsure whether the flotilla was smuggling guns into Gaza. We heard such claims before with the non-existent weapons of mass destruction to justify the war in Iraq. Like in that instance, this has turned out to be paranoia on the part of the aggressor.

Senator Quinn spoke about the need for balance in this debate. However, the Israeli action of killing of so many unarmed civilians was in no way balanced. I fail to accept such a well-armed army as Israel's could not have used non-fatal weapons such as CS gas to detain those on board. While I do not agree with the detention of the flotilla, Israel's reaction to it has been a gross violation of international law and was in no way balanced.

The fact the aid flotilla was necessary suggests a failure on the part of the international community to act. We have known for some time the plight of those living in Gaza. Matters got considerably worse last year at the time of the Israeli armed forces' Operation Cast Lead. As a member of the foreign affairs committee I received a copy of the Goldstone report on the operation and listened to one of its authors, Colonel Desmond Travers, describe the background to the inquiry. He candidly spoke of the reality on the ground with deliberate attacks on civilians leaving their homes while holding white flags, an attack on a Mosque during evening prayers in which 15 people were killed and that 30% of agricultural land in Gaza is unusable. This, along with the blockades, is having a direct impact on food production and availability.

The population of Gaza is 1.5 million people, 80% of whom are unemployed and 56% of whom are children. Israel has repeatedly said in recent days there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, a UN report in April 2010 showed 300,000 Gazans live in abject poverty and 700,000 need food aid. Life expectancy and infant mortality rates, as well as the general population's health, have been adversely affected by these conditions.

The flotilla was an attempt to bring aid relief to the people of Gaza who are being subjected to an illegal blockade by the State of Israel. I too would have liked to hear the Israeli ambassador, Dr Zion Evrony, give his explanation for his state's action at the foreign affairs committee tomorrow. I am very disappointed he has cited unforeseen circumstances and cancelled his attendance.

The Turkish Premier, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said today would change history and nothing would ever be the same again. Across the world, we have seen governments and citizens stunned by Israel's actions. Governments on each continent have expressed dismay at the Israeli Government's flouting of international law.

The UN Security Council called for a prompt impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards. Seemingly the word "independent" was pulled from earlier drafts at US insistence because it implied the investigation should not be conducted by Israel. Like Senator Norris, I am disappointed at that watered down statement.

Inside Israel there is a recognition it has gone too far. It largest selling newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, called on the Israeli Minister for Defence, Ehud Barak, to resign, claiming:

If Ehud Barak doesn't resign, international public opinion will perceive Israel as a country that is deserving of collective punishment as a sovereign entity. It ought to be hit, if not over the head, then at the very least in its pocket by means of an economic boycott. That is a clear and immediate danger.

Another newspaper Ha'aretz asked why Israel did not see that instead of tightening the siege of Gaza, it was about to tighten the siege on itself. Across the world citizens are calling for action.

We must learn from the lessons of inaction. We should have acted after the publication of the Goldstone report but did not. I commend the Minister for Foreign Affairs for being the first European Minister to see the impact Operation Cast Lead had on Gaza. He published an article in The New York Times a year later stating the conditions prevailing for the ordinary population of Gaza were inhumane and utterly unacceptable. Yet last week he agreed to the accession of Israel to the OECD. This was done with the Council's roadmap, which states the Council reaffirms that OECD membership is committed to fundamental values, including a commitment to human rights. The Minister must recognise that the actions of Israel show a blatant disregard for human rights and, bearing in mind that his vote could have prevented it from gaining accession, I call on the Minister to appeal for this action to be reversed. Pressure must be brought upon Israel at a European level. The Minister has the experience and the knowledge to be at the forefront of this issue and I urge him to ensure be there.