Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Apartheid is recognised by the International Criminal Court as a crime against humanity. It is defined as an "inhuman act committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them". I raise the issue of Israel because this is Israeli Apartheid Week. Events are being held throughout Ireland this week. There will be a demonstration outside Leinster House tomorrow between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and I urge Members of all parties to come and support it. The apartheid laws in Israel are shocking, but Members do not have to take my word for it as others representing all parties have visited Israel and witnessed it at first hand, including Senators Burke and Terry Leyden. If a Palestinian is married to an Israeli citizen, he or she is not allowed to live in the state. There are laws on freedom of movement. He or she does not have the right to vote or to join a political party. We are clear that it is an apartheid state. I am surprised that Ireland has bought €14.7 million worth of arms and military components from Israel in the past decade, which is absolutely shocking. I have called a number of times for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House for a debate on Israel. It is appropriate that he would do so as soon as possible. This trade in arms happened during the same period in which 9,000 Palestinians, including 2,060 children, were murdered. For military items exported from Israel, Palestinians would have been used as human test subjects to enable such weapons to be marketed as "battle proven". Military components exported to Israel will be used to kill and main more Palestinians and entrench the decades long military occupation. The Government still refuses to recognise the state of Palestine. Fianna Fáil colleagues have tabled a motion which we have signed. It is time for the Government to address the fact that, unfortunately, in practice, we are supporting an apartheid state, which is absolutely wrong. We need to support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. I would love to hear Fine Gael voices facing up to their responsibilities.