Everyone understands the definition of genocide, the definition of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the definition of enforced apartheid. Everyone also understands the definition of goods and services and what that exactly entails. Most countries in the world, as a rule of thumb, trade on the basis of 70% services and 30% of goods, which roughly equates to our trading position with Israel. If the Government is committed to upholding international law and international human rights, surely, as a small nation whose foundations are based on the very principles of liberty, equality and justice, we have a duty to stop individuals and companies profiteering from goods and services from the occupied Israeli settlements. We know that without the inclusion of services, this Bill will have a minimal effect. We have to make a stand and one that matters. Services are where the money is. The only thing that will have any effect at all is to sanction services such as shipping, finances and tourism. Let us imagine a family who lived in the West Bank for over 80 years and who were forced out of their homes by Israeli settlers. Now, that same home is being rented out through Airbnb as a sun destination for tourists, yet that family are exiled and can never return to their ancestral home. We, of all people, know that history. We have suffered centuries of foreign military and colonial occupation, yet managed to protect our national integrity and self-determination. We all believe in freedom and justice as the fundamental principles of international law. This is not a time to lower the bar. In fact, it is rather the opposite. This is time to say "No" to genocide, "No" to oppression and "No" to apartheid. This is time to stand with the downtrodden and the oppressed. Sanctions of goods and services do matter because they force the perpetrators of this abhorrent regime to justify themselves in the eyes of the world. The Government has the chance to shine that beacon of truth and to stand with the likes of Spain and include services in the Bill. We all will be asked by history where we were when all this was happening.

Sentiment score: 0.03