The Clare-based Chair of Sadaka, the Ireland-Palestine Alliance, believes it’ll soon be “political or logically” impossible for Ireland to have any dealings with Israel.
The comments come as the Taoiseach has told the President of the Palestinian Authority that Ireland’s decision to recognise the Palestinian state was to keep hopes for a two-state solution alive.
Following the announcement that Ireland, Spain and Norway will formally recognise the state of Palestine next Tuesday May 28th, Israel has acted swifty by recalling its envoys to Ireland and Spain for “urgent consultation”.
The Israeli foreign ministry warned in advance of the decision that recognising the state would “only fuel extremism and instability”, while the country’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has characterised the move as a “prize for terrorism”.
Taoiseach Simon Harris is standing firm however and says Israel shouldn’t be surprised by the decision.
It comes in a week when the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has issued warrants for the Israeli prime minister and defence minister, as well as senior members of Hamas, for suspected “crimes against humanity”.
Responding to claims that recognising Palestine means recognising Hamas, Newmarket-on-Fergus native and Professor of Politics at DCU, Donnacha Ó Beacháin, insists its about respecting the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
The International Court of Justice decided earlier this year that Palestinians in Gaza have plausible rights under the Genocide convention.
It concluded Gazans are at real risk of irreparable damage and that Israel should take steps to prevent genocide from occurring.
The court is due to issue an advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation of Palestine in July of this year.
Kilmaley native and Chairperson of Sadaka, the Ireland-Palestine Alliance, Eamon Meehan, says it’s likely Israel’s occupation will be found to be illegal, after which point the Irish Government should sever all engagement with Israeli settlements.
You can listen to the full interview here:
