World put on notice that Israel plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza, says Green Party leader as Govt urged to pass law

ISRAEL has put the world on notice that it plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has said.

The Dublin West TD and former minister urged the Government to quickly pass the Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban and criminalise trade with and economic support for Israeli settlements.

Paul Sharp – Commissioned by The Sun Dublin

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Mr O’Gorman, speaking on RTE’s The Week In Politics, said this would “reverberate internationally” and that there is no reason why this can’t happen before the Dail’s summer recess “if there was the will”.

In response, Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton said the Government will progress the Bill, but in a way that was legally sound.

She said she wouldn’t have a problem publishing the Attorney General’s advice on legal difficulties he’d identified surrounding the Bill.

However, Mr O’Gorman said claims of a legal issue with banning services was “a delaying tactic”.

He added: “I have real concerns about this attempt now to create a distinction between goods and services.

“This is about kicking the can down the road.”

Minister Naughton added on the same programme: “We are absolutely committed to doing this. We need to get this right. This is not a policy difference.”

The minister also said Tanaiste Simon Harris had held talks with counterparts in the Netherlands and Spain about growing “the EU coalition” to support the people of Gaza.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein TD John Brady said there had to be consequences for Israel for international law to mean anything, adding that apart from the passing of the Bill, the Government should stop the selling of Israeli war bonds through the Central Bank.

And Aontu TD Paul Lawless said Ireland, with our reputation for peace and neutrality, should be centrally involved in any peace deal rather than “standing back from the conflict”.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik elsewhere said more needs to be done by the State about Gaza, including enacting the Occupied Territories Bill without delay.

Speaking at the annual James Connolly commemoration at Arbour Hill cemetery today, she said her party will “be pressing to have some further progress before the summer”.

She added: “We see again, more tragic deaths today, more reports, deeply distressing reports of children dying by starvation in Gaza under Israel’s denial of aid, we’ve described it as a genocide – I don’t think that’s too strong.

“I think when we hear our own Taoiseach and Tánaiste describing Israel’s actions as war crimes, we do need to ensure that more is done by the Irish State.”