Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, has attended and spoke at the Irish Launch of the International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouthi and all Palestinian political prisoners.
The meeting was also addressed by Fadwa Barghouthi, the Palestinian lawyer and wife of political prisoner Marwan Barghouthi.
Deputy Crowe said:
“It was great to see such strong support from across Irish society for the release of Marwan Bargouthi and all Palestinian political prisoners, some of who have been behind Israeli bars for decades.
“I am conscious that 2 days ago marked the 33rd anniversary of the death of Bobby Sands MP, who died after 66 days on hunger strike in the H-Blocks.
“Today Ireland is a much better place thanks to the sacrifices and active commitment of prisoners to the Irish peace process.
“The Irish experience has been that prisoners have been major positive catalysts for change.
“I am also conscious of the recent peace talks between Palestine and Israel which collapsed over Israel’s refusal to release the last batch of Palestinian political prisoners as agreed to in order to restart negotiations.
“Israel’s continued illegal settlement building, its continued illegal raids into Palestine, the continued killing and wounding of Palestinians by Israeli forces, the refusal to begin serious negotiations to recognise the borders of Palestine, the continued illegal blockade of Gaza, and their ludicrous demands to have Israel recognised as a Jewish state, show how uncommitted Netanyahu’s Government are to establishing a serious peaceful two-state solution.
“In order to achieve a just and lasting peace, based on a two-state solution, Marwan, and all Palestinian political prisoners, need to be freed as part of a process, and allowed return to their communities, families, and loved ones.
“In Ireland we have seen how important prisoners can be in bringing a peace process forward and how they can be key actors for change and peace.
“A similar scenario could happen in Palestine with the release of Marwan and the thousands of other political prisoners being held in Israeli jails.”
ENDS