Where Does Each Political Party Stand On Palestine?
Words: Izzy Copestake
Ireland is one of the most staunchly pro-Palestine countries in Europe, with approximately 71% of citizens believing that Palestinian people live under a system of apartheid implemented against them by Israel. To some extent, this sentiment has been reflected in Ireland’s policymaking. For example, Ireland was one of the first EU countries to recognise the state of Palestine, one of the last EU members to grant Israel permission to open an embassy (in 1993), and Irish politicians have been some of the most outspoken regarding the war in Gaza.
Despite these expressions of support and symbolic declarations of solidarity, the Fine Gael – Fianna Fáil – Green Party government has come under fire in the lead-up to the election for failing to take meaningful action. Much of this criticism centres on the Occupied Territories Bill, which would mark a significant step toward ending trade with illegal settlements and addressing ongoing injustices in Palestine. However, members of Fine Gael blocked the bill in April this year, citing concerns about its compatibility with EU law. More recently, legal advice from the Attorney General has cleared the path for Ireland to enact the bill, but this was not done before a general election was called.
Another area of criticism involves the use of Irish airspace and Shannon Airport specifically to facilitate the US military. Figures indicate that over 220,000 US soldiers have travelled through Shannon Airport over the last three-and-a-half years. Campaigners have repeatedly raised concerns that the Irish state lacks the ability to check if military aircraft landing at Shannon are carrying weaponry, which is prohibited under Irish law. Investigations by publications such as The Ditch have repeatedly revealed that US weapons are indeed passing through Ireland on their way to Israel. Some parties have addressed this issue in their manifestos, while others have not.
We reviewed the manifestos of Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, The Green Party, Labour, The Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Aontú to examine what they have said about these issues.
Sinn Féin
Plans to develop closer diplomatic ties with Palestine and build support for an end to
the occupation and an independent Palestinian state.
Plans to enact the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill and the Occupied Territories Bill.
Calls for meaningful actions to sanction Israel for illegal occupation and brutal apartheid regime against the Palestinian people.
Plans to become a “a leading voice to end the genocide against the Palestinian People.”
Plans to use Ireland’s influence on an EU level and internationally to tackle the persecution of the Palestinian people.
Read the full manifesto here.
Fine Gael
Plans to “prohibit trade in goods from Occupied Palestinian Territories” and will “advocate for a review of the EU Trade Agreement.”
Plans to continue calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages.
Plans to advocate for a meaningful interpretation of Israel’s human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement at the Commission level.
Plans to work with European partners to secure multi-million euro funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Plans to enforce strict controls on dual-use exports to ensure that all applications for export licences are thoroughly checked to confirm that they will not be used for illicit activities.
Plans to “uphold the current legislation that prohibits civil aircraft from carrying munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory without an exemption”, and “ensure that pilots are aware of their obligations and conduct spot checks if necessary.”
Read the full manifesto here.
Fianna Fáil
Plans to work with Europe and the US to advocate for an immediate ceasefire and support a two-state solution
Plans to advocate for internationally sponsored political negotiations to achieve a “peaceful and secure Israel and Palestine.”
Plans to work with the EU to “introduce further sanctions to punish illegal settler activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.”
Plans to ban imports from the occupied Palestinian territories and “make necessary and significant amendments to the Occupied Territories Bill (2018) so that it will withstand any future legal challenges.”
Read the full manifesto here
Green Party
Plans to advocate for a two state solution, push for an immediate ceasefire, and push for an end to the attacks and settlement expansion in the West Bank
Plans to immediately enact the Occupied Territories Bill
Plans to suspend dual use export licences to Israel.
Plans to push for the European Commission to “review Israel’s compliance with its human rights obligations in the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and act accordingly to amend or suspend the agreement.”
Plans to seek regular reviews of the NTMA’s policy of divestment from businesses operating in illegally occupied territories, in order to ensure that it remains relevant and current.
Plans to further support UNRWA and defend its right to operate in Palestine
Plans to support the work of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to document war crimes and bring perpetrators to justice.
Plans to support the physical reconstruction and institution building in warzones.
Read the full manifesto here
Labour
Plans to “find a peaceful and secure resolution of the conflict.”
Manifesto expresses support of the BDS movement
Plans to enact the Occupied Territories Bill to ban the sale of settler goods.
Plans to hold the Israeli government to account for its continued violation of international law and human rights within the EU and UN.
Read the full manifesto here.
Social Democrats
Plans to sustain efforts to ensure accountability for war crimes and human rights abuses
Plans to seek the further recognition of a Palestinian state among our international allies,
Plans to promote a two-state solution on the basis of 1967 borders
Plans to enact the Occupied Territories Bill
Belief in a two-state solution
Plans to support the creation of a shared capital for the two states in Jerusalem, and the end the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.
Read the full manifesto here.
People Before Profit
Manifesto states that “People Before Profit are totally opposed to the complicity of Western imperialism” and highlights that the US and EU are the two biggest funders of Israel’s military.
Plans to expel the Israeli Ambassador & withdraw a diplomatic mission from Israel
Plans to push for the Irish government to officially adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions position on Israel, and call for the Irish State to “refuse to have anything to do with Israel”
Plans to close Shannon airport to US troops and “stop the use of Irish air space to facilitate genocide.”
Plans to pass the Occupied Territories Bill immediately.
Plans to stop the Central Bank facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds
Read the full manifesto here
Aontú
Aontú
Plans to give full support to the Occupied Territories Bill and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill
Plans to support calls for an EU-wide ban on trade with illegal settlements.
Plans to “end the use of Irish airports and airspace for the transport of weapons, components, tech, surveillance or other items that help Israel to maintain its illegal occupation and commit war crimes against the people of Palestine.”
Plans to support the Arms Embargo Bill and call for an end to the US Military’s use of Irish airports.
Plans for immediate economic sanctions of Israel
Plans to expel the Israeli ambassador.
Plans to end the export of ‘dual-use’ items (which have both military and civilian uses) to Israel, and conducting an “ethics audit to ensure that Irish public institutions are in no way complicit whether through co-operative links, procurement or funding.”
Plans to ensure Free Speech on Palestine and all other issues.
States that they “oppose the vicious violence of Hamas” and demands the immediate release of all hostages.”
Plans to work for peaceful democratic elections in Palestine
Read the full manifesto here
