Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, has expressed his surprise and disbelief at the Irish government for granting export licences for military goods to be sold to Israel, to tune of approximately €6.424 million since 2011.
Crowe said that no Irish government should be approving these export licences because Israel is a serial human rights abuser who ignores and refuses to abide by international law.
The relevant information was received by the Dublin South West TD following a parliamentary question he submitted to Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Minister Richard Bruton.
Deputy Seán Crowe said:
“Many Irish people will be appalled to hear that the Irish Government is sanctioning the export of military goods to help supply Israel’s war machine.
“They were understandably horrified as they witnessed the carnage resulting from Israel’s latest military onslaught in Gaza, which killed 2,150 Palestinian and injured over 10,000.
“During the onslaught schools, UN facilities, hospitals, residential areas, the power plant, and sewerage and water purification facilities, were all militarily targeted in a campaign designed to collectively punish the blockaded civilian population of Gaza.
“Human rights organisations also claim that Israel committed serious international law violations and war crimes in their Gaza attacks.
Crowe continued:
“Israel continues to military occupy the West Bank, enforce an illegal blockade of Gaza and continues to facilitate illegal land grabs that undermine the potential for a peace process based on a two-state solution.
“Israel’s ability to launch such devastating attacks with impunity largely stems from the vast international military cooperation and arms trade that it maintains with compliant governments across the world.
“No Irish government should be approving export licences for military goods to Israel, a serial human rights abuser who ignores and refuses to abide by international law.
“Ireland should be working towards becoming a leader in conflict resolution and the promotion of human rights globally, not facilitating states to defy international and human rights law.
“I am calling on the Irish government to place Ireland at the forefront of creating an arms embargo on Israel by refusing to approve export licences for military goods and to stop purchasing military equipment from Israeli companies.
“Irish people in their tens of thousands, right across this island, expressed their universal despair and horror at what was happening in Gaza. The Irish Government needs to acknowledge that reality and not assist Israel’s oppressive military machine.”
ENDS