It time to recognise the State of Palestine
In 2014 Sinn Féin brought forward a Dáil motion
calling on the government to “officially recognise the State of Palestine, on
the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital …”
I was part of this initiative.
It got support from other TDs from other parties and none. It was not
opposed by the Government at that time. Following a
two day debate the motion was passed.
This meant that ten years ago both Houses of the Oireachtas supported the right
of the Palestinian people to self-determination - to a Palestinian state. This
was a positive development. The
Government should have acted on this imperative. It refused to do so. I raised
this refusal regularly with successive Taoisigh.
Every Taoiseach since
then refused to deliver on the will and direction of the
Oireachtas. They would not act on this imperative. Instead they argued that
recognition of a Palestinian state remained contingent on a
deal with Israel to a two state solution. In reality Enda Kenny, Micheál Martin, Leo Varadkar gave the state of Israel
a veto over the right of the Palestinian people to a Palestinian state.
Today, according to Simon Harris and Micheál Martin, formal
diplomatic recognition of Palestinian statehood is now dependent on the
completion of international discussions involving the Irish government. Is this
a real commitment to recognition in the short term? Or is the Irish government’s recognition of the state of
Palestine now conditional on the outcome of
international discussions about which few details have been given?
The motion passed
by by the Dáil ten years ago was detailed and definitive.
It followed an initiative by over 900 prominent Israeli
citizens, including Nobel laureates, writers, academics, business people, and
broadcasters. They wrote to
Parliamentarians across Europe, including the Dáil, seeking support for a
Palestinian state. The letter was evidence of a deep desire and hope by
some Israelis to adopt an approach which they believe is in the interests of
Palestinians but crucially is also in the interests of Israel.
Days earlier I had been in Palestine and Israel
where among those I spoke to was – Yehuda Shaul –a former Sergeant and
Commander in the Israeli Army. He is a founder and co-director of ‘Breaking the
Silence’ an organisation made up of former Israeli soldiers who speak out
against the actions of the IDF. A role he continues with today. In 2014 in
words prescient of the current genocide and of the approach of the
international community Shaul told me; “The International community is
failing Israelis and Palestinians. There is a lot of talk but no action.
Nowhere in history,’ he said, ‘did people wake up one morning
and give up their privileges... the international community has to raise the
price for Israel of the current status quo… No one will live in dignity or
freedom here. Neither the Palestinians or Israelis until there is a sovereign
Palestinian state. This is the right patriotic position.”
The formal diplomatic recognition of the
Palestinian State cannot forever be conditional on what others may or may not
do. Either the people of Palestine have national democratic rights or they
don’t. If they have the right to self-determination – and I believe they
do and more importantly the Dáil
has decided this – then there should be no more delays. Ten years is too long.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin several weeks ago
acknowledged that many in the international community now accept that
recognition of a Palestinian state cannot be contingent on a two state peace
deal. He and An Taoiseach now need
to act on the logic of that position. The
Irish government should formally recognise Palestine as the rightful state of the
Palestinian people. Perhaps
if this had happened as it should have ten years ago the people of the Middle
East might have been spared the awfulness of what has occurred since
then.
Perhaps if they act now the
prospect of wider conflict in the Middle East might be avoided. Or at least an
alternative leading to a meaningful peace process can be started.
Seán Mackel and the County Antrim Memorial.
Following my tribute last week to Seán Mackel Dr
Tom Hartley has written to me about Seán’s role in designing the County Antrim
Memorial in Milltown Cemetery. This memorial is under the care of
the National Graves Association, Belfast. There are thirty four IRA Volunteers
buried in this plot. It was originally called the Tom Williams plot, because
money raised by the Tom Williams Gaelic Athletic and Camogie club bought the
plot. The club was founded by republican prisoners in A Wing, Crumlin Road Jail
who wanted to reserve a grave in this plot for the remains of Tom
Williams, a young republican hanged in Crumlin Road Jail in 1942.
The plot has two distinct sections. The main
section has a cruciform monument. The smaller section to the immediate
left of the main section contains four graves with a grey stone slab on each
grave. The original monument in the main section was designed by Sean Mackel
and was made from Irish limestone. The bronze figures on the monument were by
the Dublin Sculptor Richard Edna King. On the reverse of the monument was a
representation of Roisin Dubh calling on the republicans of Antrim to strike
for their freedom.
The front of the stone carries a male figure
symbolising breaking the bars of imprisonment and rising to freedom. One face
of the stone carried the names of Antrim’s patriot dead in the years 1798 to
1803. Another face has names from 1867 to 1953. The front faces of the stone
carries names beginning in 1922 continuing through to 1971. The list on other
faces carries through to 1990.
For many years a small stone on the right of the
monument carried an inscription in memory of those Irish republicans who fought
against fascism during the Spanish Civil War. A black polished marble slab in
front of the monument has eighteen names of republican volunteers buried in
this plot. The original monument was unveiled on Sunday, 11 September 1966. A
new stone was dedicated on Easter Sunday 2012. The plot is contained within a
grey stone surround with railings.
Thank you Tom. Another slice of our history and a
further insight into Seán Mackel’s role. Many thanks also to Belfast
National Graves for their outstanding work. They and others throughout Ireland
and the world take care of the graves of our patriot dead. Míle buiochas
daoibhse go leir.
Rights in a New Ireland
The issue of rights is at the heart of the
conversation on a new Ireland. Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland
which has been holding successful Peoples Assemblies across the island over the
last 18 months, will host ‘Rights in a New Ireland’ on Friday 3rdMay,
in St Comgall’s – Ionad Eileen Howell, Divis Street, between 11.00am –
1.00pm
If you are interested in human rights and want to
have your say on the future shape of a new Ireland join us in St Comgall’s
– Ionad Eileen Howell on 3 May.
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