Richard Boyd Barrett urges sanctions, invokes apartheid-era boycott
Richard Boyd Barrett criticised the government's response to Israel's actions in the occupied territories and called for sanctions and support for the Occupied Territories Bill. He argued Ireland should follow its unilateral boycott of apartheid South Africa and back measures including Francis Black's bill on goods from the occupied territories.
Key demands
Richard Boyd Barrett challenged the Taoiseach and the government to take unilateral action rather than hiding behind EU qualified-majority rules. He urged support for sanctions, backing Francis Black's bill on goods from the occupied territories, and not to block legislation intended to target settlement products.
Allegations of rights abuses
He accused Israel of flouting human rights and international law in its treatment and detention of children, of maintaining a "criminal siege" that has reduced Gaza to a place he described as uninhabitable, and of creeping annexation and practices that cancel Palestinian self-determination and amount to ethnic cleansing.
Diplomatic and legal context
The Tánaiste met Israeli and Palestinian leaders and briefed EU ministers on annexation and the need for free elections in Palestine. Ireland lodged observations in a French court case referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union; the Court's 12 November judgment found that foodstuffs from the occupied territories must indicate territory of origin and, where from a settlement, that must also be made clear on the label.
Government position and legal risks
The government maintains opposition to settlements but says the Occupied Territories Bill would exceed national powers because trade is an EU competence, risking legal action and substantial damages. Informal indications referenced by the government suggest the European Commission would challenge the bill if enacted.
International law and precedents
Boycotts were invoked as a precedent in Ireland's unilateral action against apartheid South Africa, prompted by the Dunstrawers workers, and Boyd Barrett said that example should guide policy. He cited international law concerns - settlements breach the fourth Geneva Convention - and referenced UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and other UN positions on settlement activity.
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Taoiseach, one of the proudest things that this country ever did in my opinion on the foreign policy stage was to implement a boycott against apartheid South Africa prompted by the heroic action of the Dunstrawers workers and that was done unilaterally unilaterally and Nelson Mandela and many other leading fighters against apartheid a weak contribution to bringing down the apartheid regime. Now why do you hide behind the coattails of the EU and say we can do nothing because we don't have qualified majority voting when we did it for apartheid South Africa. Israel flouts human rights international law in terms of children and its treatment and detention of children. It's criminal siege against Gaza which has reduced Gaza officially to a place that is uninhabitable by human beings. Where there is flagrant brazen annexation of territory, Palestinian territory which is against international law. Where the right to self-determination for Palestinians has now been officially cancelled by the Palestinian government. So only people who are Jewish now in the land that is Israel or Palestine, whatever you want to call it, have the right self-determination. So your rights, human rights, just gone. Your international rights, gone. And it just goes on and on. Ethnic cleansing is a day-to-day reality for Palestinians. So why will you not take a leaf from the book of the Dunstraw strikers and what this country did in terms of apartheid South Africa and support sanctions including Francis Black's bill in terms of goods from the occupied territories and support that bill instead of blocking it and take a leaf from the apartheid South Africa and take a leaf from the apartheid South Africa and take a lead in calling for and imposing sanctions on the apartheid, racist, repressive, illegal activities of the Israeli state in terms of the Palestinian people? The Tanishta met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday 2 December during a working visit to Israel and Palestine. During the visit, the Tanishta also met with a number of Palestinian political leaders including President Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammed Shatay and a number of UN officials as well. The Tanishta used these meetings to discuss how Ireland can support efforts towards a durable two-state solution to the conflict and to convey Ireland's concerns about the impact of the occupation, including in relation to settlement activity and the blockade of Gaza. On Monday 9 December yesterday, the Tanishta briefed ministers of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on his visit to Israel and Palestine. He highlighted two specific issues with merit for further discussion at EU level, annexation and the need for free elections in Palestine. The Tanishta is concerned by appalling evidence of creeping annexation in the West Bank. Ireland and the EU's position on Israeli settlements couldn't be clearer. They are legal under international law and fundamentally undermine the prospects for a two-state solution. Israel's violation of human rights and mistreatment of Palestinians was also raised in these meetings. The Tanishta also raised the potential for elections in Palestine, which may take place in 2020, and they haven't happened now for over a decade. EU member states must encourage Israel to facilitate voting for Palestinians in East Jerusalem as well. Ministers will return to the Middle East peace process in more detail at the January Foreign Affairs Council. In relation to new thinking, this does not mean any departure from the two-state solution. In relation to the labelling of products coming from the occupied territories, a French court challenging the rules on the labelling of settlement products was referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Ireland, as an interested member state, lodged observations on the case to endorse EU guidelines on the labelling of settlement goods issued in 2015 and appeared at the oral hearing in early April. The Court's judgment was issued on 12 November and found that foodstuffs originating in the occupied territories must bear the indication of the territory of origin. And when these products originate from a settlement, that must also be made clear on the label. So a boycott by citizens is possible, and indeed by business. In relation to the occupied territories bill, the Township has set out the government's position in the Shannad and Dáil. The government's opposition to settlements is unequivocal. However, the proposals contained in this bill go beyond what is in the government's power to do. Trade is a matter of solely EU competence, and that is clear in the treaties. And passage of the bill would expose the state to legal action and to substantial and recurring damages, and no government could endorse this. On settlements, we must choose policies which will be effective, that are consistent with our position in the EU Single Market and Customs Union, and will not be struck down as illegal, giving comfort to settlers rather than Palestinians. Informal standings in Brussels indicate that the European Commission agrees that the bill contravenes EU law, as trade is a sole EU competence in the treaties, and would take a legal challenge if the bill was enacted. On the issue of settlements, more widely, all legal settlement activity is illegal under international law, and contrary to Israel's obligations under the fourth Geneva Convention on the treatment of civilian population under military occupation. It is also damaging the viability of a future Palestinian state. The Township spoke with the US ambassador about this matter when we met him on November 20, shortly after Secretary of State Pompeo's comments. The views of the international community on settlements are extremely clear on this point, and are comprehensively expressed in the UN Security Council resolution 2334, but also in many other UN Security Council resolutions. The UN Creative Council autoc๊ 18274, Israeli Council 18278, 28279, 29725, 15975, 1883, 351, the agrar and 2828, 4822, 1895 number 20, the dual 항상 federalrule will be Miami Executive Council resolution and stage lengthen scene.
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