Palestine and Jenin violence
Deputy Murphy and the Taoiseach debated the Israeli assault on Jenin, calls to recognise Palestine, and the occupied territories Bill. The Taoiseach reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state, said the Bill was unconstitutional, and condemned violence on both sides.
Tonight at 5.30 p.m., protesters will gather at the Spire in opposition to and horror of the Israeli massacre of people in Jenin. They will be joined by protesters around the world. A general strike has been declared in the West Bank. At least ten people, including two children, have been murdered so far. Hundreds have been injured and 3,000 people have been forced to flee Jenin. There may be many more casualties in the coming days if the onslaught continues, as it appears is the intention of the Israeli state. The mindset of that state is demonstrated by a statement from an Israel Defense Forces, IDF, general that this is about breaking the safe-haven mindset. These are people who have already been displaced from their homes and are living in refugee camps, Now the Israeli state is saying "No, you can't even feel safe there." We do not just need more words; we need action.
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Will the Government move to recognise the state of Palestine? Will it adopt the recommendations of the Amnesty report into the actions of apartheid Israel and will it stop blocking the occupied territories Bill?
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Several Attorneys General have found that the occupied territories Bill is unconstitutional given the trade competencies of the European Union. We are not blocking the Bill. It is simply unconstitutional, so it cannot proceed.
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The Government is blocking it.
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The Taoiseach is misleading the House.
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We have a programme for Government commitment to recognise a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.
We are committed to that and always have been. We demonstrate that through our work at the UN and the EU. I join Deputy Murphy in condemning the violence happening in Jenin. However, let us not forget the violence that has happened in Tel Aviv where nine innocent civilians were injured as part of a terrorist attack.