Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, has called on the Irish Government to implement the wishes of the vast majority of the people of Ireland, and act on the motions that were unanimously passed in the Dáil and Seanad, and recognise the State of Palestine.

Crowe’s comments come after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a Palestinian State will be never be established as long as he is Israel’s Prime Minister.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“In the run up to this week’s election in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu, stated what we all knew for some time- he will continue to do everything he can to deny the Palestinian people their right to
Independence and self-determination.

“He has belatedly tried to claw back on this statement but he is fooling no one.

“On the morning of the vote he released a video condemning Arabs for turning out in high numbers to vote and blaming this on foreign funded NGOs.

“Irish Governments have sat back for far too long on the recognition of Palestine. The Government needs to respect the wishes of the people of Ireland and the motions passed in the Seanad and Dáil. They need to urgently recognise the State of Palestine and send a clear message to the Prime Minister of Israel that he doesn’t control or own Palestinian sovereignty, that right belongs solely to the Palestinian people.

“The EU and other countries worldwide have an important role to play in ensuring the two-state solution is supported and promoted.

“As that is clearly not  happening under Israel’s current Government, the Irish Government independently must look at banning illegal settlement goods from Israel and pushing for the cancellation of the EU’s free trade agreement with Israel.”

ENDS