Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Baineann mo cheist inniu leis an tuarascáil seo dar teideal: Córas Cinedheighilte ag Iosrael i gcoinne na bPalaistíneach agus tá súil agam go bhfuil sé léite aige. Is í mo cheist shonrach ná an bhfuil sí léite aige, an aontaíonn sé leis na conclúidí tromchúiseacha atá inti agus, go háirithe, go bhfuil córas cinedheighilte i gceist ag Iosrael i coinne na bPalaistíneach? Cén beartas atá ag an Rialtas maidir leis na moltaí? It is worth focusing on this report on Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians published last week. It is a damning indictment of what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people, whether they are living in Israel, the occupied territories, on the Gaza Strip or in East Jerusalem.

It is a 278-page report with seven chapters, an executive summary and conclusions and recommendations. I have read almost every single word. I speak from knowledge of having read the report. The evidence and the research set out is based on over four years of research. It is gathered together and it is built on the work of B’Tselem and the previous reports from Human Rights Watch: A Threshold Crossed.

The evidence and the research is clearly set out. It is a balanced and moderate report. It finds that Israel’s system of institutionalised segregation and discrimination against Palestinians as a racial group in all areas under its control amounts to a system of apartheid and a serious violation of Israel’s human rights obligations.

Perhaps the Taoiseach has not had time to read this report because I am sure that it is not possible with his busy schedule given it took me hours to do so. I am sure, however, that the conclusions and the recommendations have been drawn to his attention. Does he agree with the conclusion that an apartheid system is in operation? Will he raise it at EU and UN level? Does he agree that the International Criminal Court should consider the crime of apartheid in its current investigation in respect of the occupied territories, Israel and what it has done? Will he commit to ceasing the purchase or acquisition of Defence Forces equipment from Israel as called for in this report?

Will the Government use its seat on the UN Security Council, first, to highlight the recommendations of the report and, second, to ensure they are implemented, including imposing targeted sanctions such as asset freezes against Israeli officials most implicated in the crime of apartheid, and a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel?

I will conclude by saying that I do not want to hear about antisemitism and how we must be careful. We will take that as a given. I am over time, so I will stop with that. I ask the Taoiseach to use his three minutes appropriately and not with regard to antisemitism.

Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist phráinneach agus thábhachtach seo a ardú. Níl an tuarascáil léite agam ach tá a fhios agam faoin idirdheighilt sin agus na deacrachtaí atá ag na Palaistínigh, go háirithe ag teacht ó pholasaithe an rialtais atá ann faoi láthair.

I fully acknowledge that there are serious issues in how Israel treats Palestinians and how it is dealing with the Palestinian question and, in my view, the right of the Palestinians to their homeland and their own state. It is depressing that this litany of measures continues each year. I believe it was 2009 when I visited Gaza after one terrible conflict. Not much has changed in terms of segregation and the routes Palestinians have to take in the occupied territories as opposed to others. What is happening in East Jerusalem is not satisfactory by any yardstick. It is injustice after injustice. There is a better way of doing this. We have appealed to the Israeli Government to work towards a two-state solution. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was in Israel between 1 and 5 November and he set out our continued support for the two-state solution.

We have raised this at the UN Security Council. Indeed, the Secretary-General of the UN last year thanked me for Ireland's constructive contribution on this issue at the Security Council and for raising it consistently. We want to get a settlement and a resolution of these issues. The settlements and the demolitions are unacceptable, as is the way people are treated. In addition, civil society must be respected and supported. Ireland has supported various civil society organisations that raise human rights and we believe Israel should facilitate their unfettered access to people. They should also be allowed to continue their work in an uninhibited way on human rights within Palestine.

Is that report the Amnesty International report?

Yes.

That is currently being examined by the Department of Foreign Affairs. I have not read it yet, but I will get through it as quickly as I can. From our perspective, through the European Union we have a clear policy position in this regard. We believe that Israeli policy is counterproductive to the emergence and triumph of moderate opinion within Palestine, in both the West Bank and Gaza. In many ways that policy has allowed extremists to get the upper hand, in my view. We have pointed this out time and again. Sometimes Israel does not take too kindly to Ireland's contributions and position on this, but we will continue to make our views known.

I appreciate that the Department is looking at it. It was only published last week. However, there is no escaping the conclusion - níl aon éalú ó na conclúidí - that Israel is operating an apartheid system in respect of the Palestinians. Does the Taoiseach accept that conclusion, among other conclusions? What steps will he take with regard to the very practical recommendations? He said very little has changed; I am afraid quite a good deal has changed. The apartheid regime has become entrenched. It is no longer just statements from various politicians. It has become entrenched in legislation, policy and practice, while the suffering of the Palestinian people has intensified.

The report was condemned by various spokespeople in Israel, including the foreign minister, before it was even published.

A respected former Deputy states:

Amnesty International used to be a globally respected international defender ... Today it distorts history, propagates the big lie that Israel is an apartheid state...

And so on. That is a respected former Deputy from Fine Gael setting out his response to this report. It does us no favours to equate questioning and criticism of Israeli policy with antisemitism. It does not serve the Jewish people or democracy and it is extremely dangerous.

Hear, hear.

We need to respond to this report in a practical manner as a proud, independent, neutral State with a voice that is still respected in the world.

I agree that one can oppose Israeli Government policy and should not be labelled as antisemitic for doing it. It is important, given our strength despite being a small country, that our voice on this matter has been seen as objective and honourable, although not by everybody. Generally speaking, our interest is genuine and we have been one of the strong supporters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, particularly during the difficult years when former US President Trump took away American funding from UNRWA. Ireland has been a very strong supporter of education, especially in the West Bank and Gaza, through the UNRWA organisation.

We fund civil society organisations and have continued to fund civil society and human rights organisations that Israel has labelled as terrorist or whatever. We do not accept that labelling and we are pushing our European colleagues to continue to support these organisations. I will not use the term "apartheid" because I am not sure it will add anything right now.

Amnesty International uses it.

I am on the pragmatic side. I know what works. When I say "works", we must help people and children to get an education. We should seek, at a European level and with our American partners, to expand UNRWA and its support for the vast majority of people.

We either respect Amnesty International or we do not.

We have never sanctioned Israel.

I respect all parties but we are entitled to have our own opinion as well.

It is what I am trying to find out.

Time is up, please.

We are entitled to read reports, analyse them and form our own opinions. There is a great novel by Colum McCann, Apeirogon, and the Deputy should read it. I have read it. That in a far more impactful way, I think, illustrates the reality of life involving two people-----

The Taoiseach is comparing a novel to a human rights report.

We are way over time.

-----on different sides. The Deputy should read it.

The Taoiseach might read the Amnesty International report.

Go read it. I rest my case.

Read the report.

That approach has not worked so far.

I rest my case.

We will not have a free-for-all.