Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to address the issue of the designation of six Palestinian human rights groups as terrorists by the Israeli Ministry of Defence on 22 October. This designation by the state of Israel is a clear attack on civil society organisations working in defence of human rights and international law. Such actions do little to challenge the view of Israel as a repressive, apartheid regime. Israel and pro-Israel organisations have for years been going after donors to cut off funding to these Palestinian human rights organisations, some of which are at the forefront of pushing cases before the International Criminal Court, ICC, including against Israeli defence minister, Mr. Benny Gantz, while also imprisoning human rights defenders on the ground. The donors, including European governments, have repeatedly found no basis for the accusations of terrorism. Remember, these orders were issued by the same government minister who this summer authorised the bombing of a building that housed various media offices, including the Associated Press, in Gaza. This was also under the pretext of secret evidence.

The attacks against six Palestinian organisations are, therefore, just another step in a long-standing series of attempts to try to ban any criticism and, particularly, any legal activism against Israel. It is little wonder that hundreds of rights organisations around the world have seen through Israel’s latest façade, and that our own Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Simon Coveney, has stated that he has seen no evidence to support the assertion that these are terrorist organisations. This attack comes as part of an Israeli campaign against the Palestinian people and civil society to delegitimise, eliminate and smear their work in the areas of human rights, gender, and social and environmental justice. The organisations are targeted because of their powerful and professional work in documenting human rights violations and conducting advocacy to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Palestinian civil society has been tirelessly documenting human rights violations, advocating for protection and justice, and offering legal and social support to the Palestinian people. The work of civil society is fundamental to upholding democratic practices and the protection of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, especially the right of self-determination and the right of Palestinian refugees to return.

I call for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to update the House on what he and the Government are going to do, given that no evidence of terrorism has been provided. Irish Aid-funded human rights organisations have been effectively criminalised. Are we going to fund vital human rights work and watch as the staff, some of whom are Irish citizens, face arrests and jail time? I would like the Minister to come into the House to give us an update on what is going to happen.