Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

All loss of life must be roundly condemned but we should never lose sight of what we are dealing with here. It is a sensitive powder keg and the initiator, what provoked this current crisis, the lightening rod, as it were, was Israeli provocation, and that should be called out. The Israeli response has also been entirely disproportionate.They are guilty of war crimes and are in flagrant breach of and have abused international law.

The carnage, wanton waste of life, destruction and slaughter of innocent people, particularly children, are horrendously reprehensible. We all know that; it is well documented. The question is what the free world will do. We should support the Minister, whom I welcome. He speaks for Ireland. We have a special affinity with Palestine. It is not anti-Israel. We love Israel too. We like the people but we must call out barbaric acts. We should commend the Minister. With the utmost respect, he is proudly affiliated with a political party that is not the first port of call for people campaigning for equality, equal rights and respect for Palestine. We must commend and encourage the Minister.

I heard calls from other Members at the weekend for the Israeli ambassador to be expelled. This is not the correct move at this point for the reason cited in the Minister's speech, namely, the need for a collective and unified response. Perhaps we should keep it in mind if it is done in a collective way but a unilateral action to expel the Israeli ambassador from Ireland would not be advisable. At least at the moment, we have access to the ambassador and he can tell the Israeli Government our views on this.

There are a few things we could do. I welcomed President Biden's election but he has been disappointing in this regard. He must be told that his native home in Ireland is most disappointed with him. I know he is not a Donald Trump. I would be worried about the Donald but Joe Biden has let the free world down.

The Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 has been mentioned. In the meantime, Sadaka has said it would love to bring a motion forward and have it supported in Dáil Éireann. This is a most measured and pragmatic response on its part that would recognise there is de facto annexation by Israel of large parts of the West Bank. Will the Government support that small measure? The Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill championed by Senator Black and others has been suddenly trumped. There should be sanctions, although this should not be a unilateral action. All members of the free world - the countries that call this out - should impose trade sanctions against Israel. There are things we can do, although not unilaterally. There could be trade sanctions against Israel to say enough is enough and it is not going to get away with this. It will get away with it, however, unless we act in a tangible way.