Tom Clonan (Independent)

I raise the issue that has come to light from an internal cable that was published by Reuters, which is the statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the processing of all F, M and J visa applications should be halted. The US authorities say they want to introduce increased vetting of the social media profiles of, particularly, students applying for J1 visas. That has an immediate and pressing implication for our own students. Hundreds of thousands of Irish students have done a J1 visa. I did my own in 1985, travelling to New York. I know the Cathaoirleach has a particular interest in Irish-American relationships. It is unconscionable. The views of our students on Gaza and Palestine are what is being highlighted by Secretary of State Rubio. Any criticism of US or Israeli actions in Gaza is - these were the words used - “a threat to US foreign policy”. This is a very dark moment in the freedom of expression and the expression of views. I ask that we use whatever relationships we have across the House with our American counterparts to try to stop this before it happens because it is a retrograde step.

In that context, I wish to mention the definition of antisemitism that is being considered for adoption by the Government. For example, the Israel Defense Forces, which is involved in the slaughter and genocide of Gazans, is a multiconfessional organisation. There are Christians; Orthodox Christians; Copts; Bedouin Arabs have a tradition of serving; Sunni Muslims; and Shia Muslims in the Israel Defence Forces. It is a multiconfessional force. Therefore, criticism of what the IDF does in Gaza is not antisemitic or anti-Jewish. It is what it is; it is criticism of war crimes. Criticism of Netanyahu is not antisemitic; it is criticism of a war criminal. In fact, coming up here, it was a TY student who suggested to me that, in explaining the Order of Business, the number one priority should be raising the plight of the people of Gaza, and to criminalise that by way of detention and deportation is unspeakable.