Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I just want to congratulate Al-Haq, Palestine’s premier human rights organisation, for the launch of its new report entitled Israeli Apartheid. It truly is an expansive and rigorous piece of research. Some of its authors are legal academics from National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG. It is the latest in a series of reports from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and B’Tselem, which have found that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid against the Palestinian people. Unfortunately, the Irish Government has so far refused to recognise this fact, which is very disappointing.

Yesterday, I was very happy to be part of the launch of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine, which is a new civil society coalition. There are 16 groups that signed up for this so far, including trade unions, such as SIPTU and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, development charities, such as Trócaire, human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and, of course, Sadaka and the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, IPSC. It is a broad coalition representing an incredible array of activists, researchers and campaigners who are comping together with the aim of asking the Government to recognise that the state of Israel is committing crimes of apartheid against the Palestinian people.

We are calling on the Government also to support efforts at the United Nations led by South Africa and Namibia to re-establish the special committee against apartheid to investigate all practices of systemic discrimination and oppression purportedly amounting to apartheid anywhere in the world, including the occupied Palestinian territory. The South Africans and Namibians know apartheid first-hand. They struggled against it and defeated it.

Ireland now needs to do its part. We are also calling for the passage and enactment of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill, which I introduced to the Seanad four years ago. I echo the wonderful article that was published in the Irish Timesyesterday by the former chair of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, namely, Fatin Al Tamimi, by saying that Ireland needs to do more. Palestinians need deeds, not words. Mere condemnation of Israel’s crimes is just hallow rhetoric; it needs to be backed up by action. The constant cycle of condemnation and inaction relating to Israel undermines Ireland’s credibility and degrades its commitment to upholding international law. Irish people understand what it is happening in Palestine. There is a powerful anticolonial instinct and a natural solidarity between us and the Palestinians.

Unfortunately, the Government is lagging behind. It is denying a reality that is experienced by millions of Palestinians. It is out of step with Irish public opinion and it is a job of activists and campaigners to remind them of that. Ireland has an opportunity to lead the global struggle against apartheid and we need to seize it with both hands. We owe it to the Palestinians, ourselves, our past and our future – a future free from apartheid, colonialism and war.

I would like a debate on the issue. I know we probably will not get it this side of Christmas, but I would also love, if we have a debate, for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come in and give us an update on what is happening.