I am returning to the issue of Palestine and the genocide that is going on there. This morning, we listened to RTÉ's report of what the Palestinian ambassador to the UN said. He spoke of how flames and hunger were devouring Palestinian children. We also listened to an eyewitness account of a doctor on the ground. I will provide a few figures, but how have we reached this point? How have we let this happen? A total of 54,000 Palestinians, including 15,613 children, are dead. The Lancet puts the figure for dead and injured much higher. More than 630,000 people have been displaced. At least 28 aid workers have been killed since 1 May, an average of one worker per day. Since 7 October 2023, 452 aid workers have been killed. What did Israel do today? It announced that it intended to establish 22 new settlements. How have we allowed this to happen? I include myself in that question. We have let it happen because we have bought into a narrative that has been pushed for over 100 years - I would say 140 years at this stage - that the Jewish people were a people without a land and Palestine was a country without a people. Arising from that, the narrative took hold that they were entitled to that land, notwithstanding the Nakba in 1948 or the new Nakba that is happening under our eyes and noses. The narrative is that Israel is the only democracy and the bulwark against the Islamic religion and Muslims. We have all bought into that to a certain extent. When the Hamas attack took place on 7 October 2023, which we are on record for condemning, I also said that history did not start on that day. I do not have much time, but I will read out some of the bullet points. On 6 October 2023, Israel controlled most of Palestine in complete defiance of international law. The people were kept under a blockade with electricity for less than a few hours per day. It continued the blockade of most of Gaza's population. At that point, Israel had built up an extensive infrastructure in the West Bank exclusively for Jews against international law. On 6 October 2023, Israel had already killed 250 Palestinians by October, including almost 50 children, in the most aggressive settler push across the West Bank for almost two decades. I am quoting from a new book called Catastrophe: Nakba II to be launched tonight by Fintan Drury. I invite all Members to go along to Hodges Figgis. I cannot find a more comprehensive and fair analysis of what has happened except The Hundred Years' War on Palestine. It is time for us to reflect and stop the cognitive dissonance where we praise ourselves for taking the best action on Palestine and ask how an independent sovereign state - a republic - is standing over a narrative that is utterly false regarding Israel. Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for your forbearance.
Sentiment score: -0.12
We all may well be appalled and sickened, but the Government is refusing to face the elephant in the room. Israel has an umbilical cord attachment to America. America, followed by the EU, is the biggest supplier of arms to Israel, and the Irish Government is waiting for a morally corrupt and inept EU to take action. The EU is the second biggest supplier of arms to the genocide. Let us call a spade a spade. We have no difficulty, and the Government has had no difficulty, criticising Russia. The same condemnation has not been used as regards Israel, identifying it as the aggressor that is perpetuating genocide. The Tánaiste's facial expressions do not help in that manner. This is far too serious.
Sentiment score: -0.26
He can say a lot of things, and then we watch Shannon being used, an occupied territories Bill that is going nowhere and trade with Europe. Ours is a small country. It is time we led, given our history. It is time we called for an absolute ceasefire, led in the UN, made our words mean something and called out that narrative for what it is. Israel is a rogue state. It is not a democratic state. That narrative allowed a congressman, who said of Palestine, "Go in there and kick the ... [S-H-I-T] out of them", to come into this room just two months ago. This is a congressman who is fêted by one of the Tánaiste's colleagues and by another colleague in Fianna Fáil. How dare you shake your head? You stand up-----
Sentiment score: -0.02
You stand up-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
-----and account for what we are going to do when you say there are war crimes and a genocide.
Sentiment score: -0.60
I would be delighted.
Sentiment score: 0.51
Palaver?
Sentiment score: 0.00
Now what are you going to do about it?
Sentiment score: 0.00
Good. When?
Sentiment score: 0.22
Before the summer?
Sentiment score: 0.00
I am not throwing brickbats.
Sentiment score: 0.00