Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for taking this important debate and for his leadership and that of the officials in the Department on this issue. I agree with the views expressed by most of my colleagues. What is needed is more than just words. The full might and pressure of the international community is needed to ensure there is a de-escalation.

Following on from Senator Ward's points, Ireland is friends with Palestine but we also want to be friends with Israel. I am concerned about some of the message going out to the effect that we are trying to alienate Israel completely. We want to be friends with Israel but friends are people and individuals who tell home truths. In the Jewish religion there is an enormous value placed on truth, as there is on peace and compassion.

Israel has a right to defend itself but, as the Minister said, it must be proportionate. Clearly, in this case the actions of Israel are not proportionate and Israel is not behaving appropriately and is breaching international law. I share Senator Ward's concerns around the conflation of Israel and Judaism, something Senator McDowell also mentioned. To oppose the actions of Israel is not anti-Semitic. That point has to be made very clear. I acknowledge anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe and Ireland, and we need to take a strong stance against it. It is appalling and wrong. Expressing concern and, indeed, anger about the actions of the Israeli Government, however, is not anti-Semitic.This country has always favoured a two-state solution. We need to continue contributing and campaigning wherever we can to ensure that happens. This is also a test of Irish foreign policy. I have never believed that Irish foreign policy is neutral or should be neutral. Irish foreign policy is non-aligned. When it comes to issues of human rights, the protection of civil liberties and the protection of lives, we cannot be neutral. The Minister must use that voice as much as he possibly can.

The Jewish people, probably more than most, should know about the history of dispossession. Senator McDowell mentioned the Holocaust, but we should also remember the Jewish people suffered centuries of pogroms. They were dispossessed of their lands all over the world. The state of Israel, more than any other, should understand dispossession and the harm it causes.

What can we do in the long run? The danger is this is just a cycle. We keep hearing the same things again and again. We can exert whatever power we have at UN and EU level but let us also see whether there are practical measures we can adopt. Are there things we as a country or as individuals can do to help? I was struck by Senator Ward talking about dialogue between different groups. One of the things we learned during the peace process, and which is still so important, is bringing together people of different traditions to talk and share ideas. Yes, there will be conflict but bringing people into a room is important. We should do whatever we can to bring young Israelis and young Palestinians together, to talk not just about political issues but about other things they have in common. If we have learned anything on this island it is that peace is achieved through dialogue and engagement. I ask the Minister to consider sponsoring programmes that encourage engagement among young Palestinians and young Israelis. Having that engagement among young people over a long number of years certainly benefited the peace process here. That is something to which we can contribute in building a long-term solution to the conflict in the Middle East. I ask the Minister to consider that.