Latest news with #EU-IsraelAssociationAgreement
RTÉ News
16 hours ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Growing political pressure for firm Govt action on Gaza
All day Wednesday and late into the evening on the street facing Leinster House, demonstrators sang a stinging song urging politicians to find their "backbone" and to enact the Occupied Territories Bill. The same sentiment echoed through the Dáil chamber. Some within the Government bristled over what they believe is a shocking failure to take into account its outspoken voice on Gaza. Words that have been matched by deeds, including €87 million in funding for people in Palestine since 2023, recognising the State of Palestine, supporting South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and leading the way in requesting a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The Taoiseach even claimed there is a battle under way domestically for moral superiority on what has become one of the most emotive issues in Irish politics. The language denouncing Israel's actions has become sharper too with both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris repeatedly using the word genocide this week. All remaining ambiguity and lingering diplomatic niceties have now been cast aside. The Taoiseach believes the single more effective next step is to try to persuade the EU and the US to "pull their support for the State of Israel". But it is the requirement for further direct interventions by this State rather than words alone which is fueling immense political tension. A significant political act was about to unfold It was evident as the bells were clanging around Leinster House just after 6pm on Wednesday when the weekly votes were called. A significant political act was about to unfold before the business concluded. Reporters watched from the Dáil gallery as Dublin Bay-North TD Barry Heneghan took his seat to vote on a Sinn Féin Bill. It was a piece of legislation that would prevent the Central Bank from retaining its technical role in approving the prospectus which allows Israel sell bonds in the EU. Israel has made it clear that these bonds are used to fund its war in Gaza. Sinn Féin's legal advice stated that a Member State is entitled as a matter of EU law to unilaterally restrict access to its financial services. It can do so on public policy grounds that are rooted in Ireland's fundamental interest in pursuing its international law obligations, the legal opinion concluded. The Government argued that the Bill did not provide a legal mechanism to allow the Central Bank of Ireland set aside its obligations under the EU Prospectus Regulation. It argued this was an EU competence, and the Central Bank can only refuse the approval of a prospectus where it has a legal basis to do so. The advice circulated to ministers added that it is legally required to issue prospectuses that are complete, legally sound, and comprehensible. For Barry Heneghan, who had supported the Government in every vote up to this point, this was a matter of conscience, and he believed Ireland shouldn't facilitate the sale of bonds that help fund the devastation in Gaza. He left Leinster House around 9pm on Wednesday, long after the bells had ceased ringing, certain in the knowledge that he had made the right decision. Generally, there was little political alarm triggered by his vote within Government. Some whispered that "Barry can be difficult to manage", and that it was simply a "flexing of muscles". But it did unquestionably show that those Independents, who occupy a liminal position within the Coalition, are perhaps a more fragile bloc of votes than first suspected. This was further illustrated by the actions of Meath-East TD Gillian Toole. Before 9pm she was on a bus back home to Ratoath having also voted against the Government on the Bill. Regarded as a deep-thinker and a conscientious politician, Gillian Toole cited the lack of detailed briefings from the Government as an influence on her decision. The two TDs are still aligned to the Coalition, their jump overboard is a temporary one, and the Government's majority is not shattered. 'Call out the narrative for what it is' It is emblematic though of the growing pressure on the Government to accompany its increasingly strident rhetoric on Gaza with firm actions. The acerbic exchange between the Tánaiste and Independent TD Catherine Connolly in the Dáil on Thursday morning typified the fractiousness which has built around this issue. The Galway West TD made an impassioned call on Government to do more, saying: "It's time we led. Call out the narrative for what it is. Israel is a rogue state; it is not a democratic state. Stand up, stand up and account for what you're going to do." In a charged atmosphere, Simon Harris accused her of expressing "vitriol and dislike for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil" and of refusing to acknowledge the major steps taken by the Government. It all suggests that the Government will now be pursued relentlessly by protesters, the Opposition, and perhaps by some Independent TDs supporting the Coalition, to pass the Occupied Territories Bill quickly. The Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart, has already singalled that it will sit throughout June to progress this legislation swiftly. The speed of its passage through the Oireachtas after this committee work has concluded will be the measure of the Government's strong words on Gaza this week.
Shafaq News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Barcelona cuts ties with Israel over Gaza massacres
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Barcelona's city council voted to sever institutional relations with the Israeli government and suspend its friendship agreement with the city of Tel Aviv 'until international law is respected and the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people are guaranteed.' The decision, which includes around twenty measures, was supported by the ruling Socialist Party in Barcelona, several left-wing parties, and pro-independence groups. It calls for cutting institutional ties with the 'current Israeli government' and suspending the friendship pact signed on September 24, 1998, between Barcelona and Tel Aviv. Barcelona's Socialist mayor, Jaume Collboni, said the 'level of suffering and death witnessed in Gaza over the past year and a half, along with repeated Israeli government attacks in recent weeks, makes any relationship between the two cities unsustainable.' Among other measures included in the decision, some beyond the municipality's authority, the city council called on the board of the Barcelona trade fair to bar Israeli government pavilions, 'arms companies, or any sector benefiting from genocide, occupation, apartheid, and colonialism against the Palestinian people.' A similar recommendation is under consideration for the Port of Barcelona, advising it not to receive ships involved in transporting arms to Israel. It is not the first time Barcelona has suspended ties with the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. In February 2023, former mayor and social activist Ada Colau also decided to suspend relations with Israel and cancel twinning agreements with Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged all European Union member states to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement and impose an arms embargo on Israel. 'It is unacceptable to remain silent in the face of violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza and the killing of more than 50,000 people,' Sánchez said, stressing that there must be no 'double standards' between Ukraine and Gaza. Spain, which recognized the State of Palestine a year ago, renewed its call for an immediate halt to the war in Gaza and the urgent entry of humanitarian aid.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Ireland facing backlash in US over Gaza stance, says President Higgins
The Taoiseach and the President have warned of an international propaganda campaign against Ireland because of the Government's criticism of Israel's bombardment of Palestinians. Micheál Martin has called out Israeli 'propaganda' that implies the people of Ireland support Hamas and accused Israel of twisting the Irish position of recognising Palestine and our support of the International Court of Justice case against Israel. Earlier, President Michael D Higgins said there is an active campaign against Ireland in the US. Mr Higgins said it is 'a disgrace and a slander' to suggest that criticism of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies is somehow antisemitic. 'That is a disgrace and a slander and has been a slander against Ireland, against individuals, including myself,' he said. 'The idea that propaganda can pay against Ireland is now active in the United States so that when we are seeking to have meetings with people who are investing in Ireland, they are being contacted in advance with a suggestion of saying: 'You must open with, why is Ireland so against the US position in Israel?'.' Mr Martin agreed that there are attempts to 'smear Ireland' and that Mr Higgins had been a focus of some of this, which he described as 'regrettable'. The Taoiseach stressed that he and the Government had consistently condemned Hamas, but said the Irish people 'are sickened by the barbarity and the scale of what is happening' with Israeli attacks on Gaza. Mr Martin also warned there was 'some distance' to go before an EU majority supports a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, but that a recent EU move to review the agreement was not something he would have anticipated six months ago. Taoiseach Micheal Martin (left) with Nessa Doran O'Reilly (right), the Furniture Program Manager at the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, on the opening day of the annual Bloom festival at Phoenix Park in Dublin. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Shortly after the Taoiseach's comments, it was confirmed that several shots were fired in an area near where Irish peacekeeping troops are serving in southern Lebanon, near Israel's blue line. None of the Irish personnel, who were recently deployed as part of the UN operation, were injured in the incident. In a statement, the Defence Forces said a number of rounds were fired in the vicinity of the area where the patrol was operating. 'The patrol withdrew from the area, there were no injuries to the personnel on the patrol and no damage reported to the armoured vehicles they were operating from,' the statement said. 'All personnel of the Irish contingent in Lebanon are reported to be safe and well, they continue to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon and are committed to the stability of the region as impartial peacekeepers. 'We wish to remind all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers.' Yesterday, Israel said it will establish 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank — including the legalisation of outposts already built without government authorisation — after a security cabinet vote held in secret last week. Israel occupied the West Bank, capturing it from Jordan, in the six-day war of 1967. Since then, successive Israeli governments have tried to permanently cement control over the land, in part by declaring swathes as 'state lands', which prevents private Palestinian ownership. Meanwhile, the White House said Israel 'backed and supported' a new peace proposal, which Hamas continues to evaluate. The proposal was intended to return surviving as well as dead hostages still being held in Gaza in exchange for an extended truce in fighting. Hamas has said it had agreed with US president Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, on a 'general framework' of an agreement that would lead to a lasting ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an influx of aid, and a transfer of power from the militant group to a politically independent committee of Palestinians. Read More Carbon footprint of Israel's war on Gaza exceeds that of many entire countries
Barnama
2 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Spain And Slovenia Call For Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza, Sanctions On Israel
MADRID, May 30 (Bernama-WAFA) -- Spain and Slovenia called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the imposition of sanctions on Israel, during a joint press conference held Thursday in Madrid by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his Slovenian counterpart Robert Golob. According to Palestine News and Info Agency (WAFA), Sánchez stated that both governments agree on suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, imposing an arms embargo, and enacting sanctions against individual Israeli officials. He emphasised that Spain and Slovenia share a common stance on the humanitarian catastrophe facing the Palestinian people. He also reaffirmed that their formal recognition of the State of Palestine nearly a year ago was grounded in a commitment to human rights and international law.
Saba Yemen
2 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Spain & Slovenia demand immediate ceasefire in Gaza & sanctions on Israel
Madrid - Saba: Spain and Slovenia have called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the imposition of sanctions on Israel. This came during a joint press conference held by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his Slovenian counterpart, Robert Golob, on Thursday in the Spanish capital, Madrid. Sánchez stated that the Spanish and Slovenian governments agree on suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, banning arms supplies to Israel, and imposing sanctions on individuals. He explained that the two countries share the same vision regarding the tragic situation faced by the Palestinian people. For his part, Golob affirmed that Slovenia, alongside Spain, will continue to defend the fundamental values of international law, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the swift delivery of humanitarian aid. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
