Sinn Féin party president, Gerry Adams TD, and the party’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, have today met with well-known Palestinian MP and political leader, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti.

Dr. Barghouti is visiting Ireland to speak about issues pertaining to the on-going negotiations between Israel and Palestine, and international support for non-violent peaceful protest against Israel’s occupation of Palestine. His visit was facilitated by Irish Palestinian solidarity organisation, Sadaka.

Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Crowe said:

“I want to thank Dr. Barghouti for coming to visit Ireland to brief political representatives and the public on the current situation in Palestine.

“Israel’s behaviour, in continuing to increase its illegal settlement building in the West Bank during peace talks, is undermining and having a negative impact on the negotiations.

“The continued construction of illegal Israeli settlements is increasingly undermining the possibility of any two state solution.

“Due to the power imbalance in the negotiations between the two countries it is important that the international community continue to place pressure on Israel to abide by international and human rights law.

“The Irish government can have a positive role in this regard but it must continue to be active. For example it could fully and formally acknowledge the Palestinian state. 134 countries out of the 194 that are represented at UN have already done this.

“In support of a peaceful solution to the conflict in the region, it is now time that the Irish government should do the same. Palestinian statehood is no threat to anybody. ”

ENDS