Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will start by defining the word, "apartheid" as I will use that word throughout my speech. We all know that apartheid is defined as a policy of segregation and political, social and economic discrimination. I believe that the discrimination being practised by the Israeli State against the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories satisfies all the criteria to qualify as apartheid. The ethnic cleansing of areas of east Jerusalem with the support of the Israeli authorities must surely qualify as a war crime. There is a growing number of organisations prepared to call the regime what it is. Ireland must ensure that it is at the forefront of the campaign against this apartheid and persecution.When reputable organisations such as Humans Rights Watch and B'Tselem, the leading Israeli human rights organisation, label Israel as an apartheid state, it is incumbent on those governments the world over that support human rights and international law to condemn these practices and to be prepared to impose sanctions on any regime that commits such atrocities. One of the best-known sayings attributed to Edmund Burke is “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” We must make sure that we, as a country, cannot be accused of ignoring the suffering of the Palestinian people. As one of the few countries in Europe that does not have a colonial past, we are in a position to act as an honest broker. We must never be afraid to call out discrimination and illegality wherever it occurs.

The report recently issued by Human Rights Watch stated that "Israeli authorities are committing the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution." There is growing awareness of the crimes being committed by the Israeli apartheid regime. Even within the country that is Israel's greatest ally, there is now a move to make aid dependent on the upholding of international law. Congresswoman Betty McCollum has introduced legislation in the US Congress which, according to her press release, would prohibit Israel "from using U.S. taxpayer dollars in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem for: the military detention, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention; to support the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes in violation of international humanitarian law; or, to extend any assistance or support for Israel’s unilateral annexation of Palestinian territory in violation of international humanitarian law." Our Government should also take a stand and, rather than using mere words, should also introduce legislation that would impose sanctions on Israel as a consequence of its flouting of international law and its practising of apartheid in the occupied territories.

Ireland's position on the UN Security Council should also be used to highlight the situation. The 2019 concluding observations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination called on Israel to end its policies and practice of racial discrimination and apartheid against Palestinians in the occupied territories and in Israel.

We should all be prepared to label Israel as "apartheid Israel", as we did with South Africa. We should always remember the words of Nelson Mandela, who said "our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians". I call for a debate on this issue, if at all possible.