Latest news with #Israelisettlements
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
‘Everybody will follow' Irish ban on Israeli settlements trade, committee told
A ban on trade between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements will prompt other countries to follow suit, a committee has heard. Irish-Palestinian woman Fatin Al Tamimi, who is vice-chairwoman of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said Ireland passing the Bill would give Palestinians hope. Advertisement 'Ireland, the world is watching. Please do your best to (do) the right thing, to pass this occupied territories Bill and give the Palestinians hope. 'When Ireland starts, everybody will follow on because it's a legal obligation, it's a moral obligation for all countries, including Ireland. 'It is important for Ireland to start, and then everybody will follow.' Israeli, Palestinian and Jewish representatives, including former justice minister Alan Shatter, appeared before TDs and senators on Tuesday to discuss the draft laws. Advertisement Maurice Cohen, chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, said the Bill was 'performance politics dressed as principle' that does not help Palestinians. Describing himself as a Dublin-born Jew, he said that criticism of Israel was not antisemitism, but 'when criticism becomes a campaign and becomes law… we have to pause'. He said the support for the Bill was done in 'good faith' but was not a plan for peace. He said 'selective outrage' was not foreign policy and double standards do not serve peace efforts. Advertisement 'This Bill, in tone and in consequence, isolates moderates and powers extremes and undermines the credibility that Ireland has built as a voice for reason and reconciliation in the field of peacebuilding.' Natasha Hausdorff, a barrister with Ireland Israel Alliance, said the Bill would create 'a government-required partial boycott of Israel'. She said this would force US companies based in Ireland to violate federal anti-boycott laws that could see them given fines or prison sentences. Both Mr Shatter and Ms Hausdorff said they did not accept Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands are illegal. Advertisement Ireland 'How dare you': Alan Shatter criticised in committ... Read More Labour TD Duncan Smith said that as Mr Shatter, Ms Hausdorff and Mr Cohen had not recognised that Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands were illegal, it 'heavily' caveated their evidence. 'I think that's a fundamental point here, in terms of this entire hearing (with Israeli/Jewish representatives), is that there is that fundamental disagreement. 'So we diverge at the very start with all witnesses on this.'
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Harris criticises ‘Father Ted' comment from Shatter on Israeli settlements bill
There is nothing humorous about the killing of children in Gaza, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said in response to comments by former justice minister Alan Shatter. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter has criticised the government's draft laws to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands. Advertisement Ahead of appearing before a committee to discuss the legislation, he described it as a 'Father Ted' measure and compared it to the targeting of Jews during the Second World War. Responding to the comments, Fine Gael leader Mr Harris said 'there's nothing funny or humorous' about the killing of children in Gaza. A bill that would ban the trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land is progressing through the Oireachtas. The Government said there is a narrow legal basis, based on an advisory opinion from the UN's top court, to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Advertisement The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said last July that countries should 'take steps to prevent trade or investment relations' that maintain illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. The Government is to ban the trade of goods, but has indicated services are more legally complex. The foreign affairs committee is due to hear evidence in relation to the bill from Israeli, Palestinian and Jewish representatives on Tuesday, including Mr Shatter. Mr Shatter told Newstalk radio on Tuesday morning that the bill was 'a Father Ted-like provision' that had 'no relevance' to resolving the conflict. Advertisement He said it would indicate the Irish government believes that 'no Jewish person should reside or work in East Jerusalem or on the West Bank'. 'So this will be for the first time, a bill enacted by a European parliament which specifically targets Jews,' he said. 'We haven't had that since the end of the Nazi regime in 1945.' Mr Harris told the same radio station that the Irish government can differentiate between a people and their government, and that the actions of the Israeli government are 'despicable'. Advertisement 'I deplore antisemitism, so does everybody in this country, but you know what, I take views of one of the highest courts in the world much more seriously.' He referred to the ICJ opinion and said the EU is recognising that member states can enact domestic legislation in relation to it. Ireland Simon Harris warns of Irish job losses if US impos... Read More 'People in Ireland want to do everything we can to try and see a ceasefire, see humanitarian aid flow and see a two-state solution,' Mr Harris said. 'There's nothing funny or humorous about genocide and there's nothing humorous or funny about children queuing in Gaza today for food and water who are at risk of being shot dead by the IDF. Advertisement 'There's a genocide happening in (Gaza), references to Father Ted and the likes, they might be humorous soundbites but there's nothing funny about the slaughter of children.'
