It is beyond pathetic that our Government has buried the Occupied Territories Bill while Israel ramps up its ethnic cleansing in Palestine and southern Lebanon, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson.
Senator Stephenson said:
“The chaos of the US and Israel’s illegal war in Iran and Lebanon is providing the perfect cloak for the state-sanctioned Israeli settler regime to ramp up its campaign of violence against Palestinian communities.
“On Sunday, there was extreme violence in the West Bank, including arson attacks on homes and assaults – this form of settler colonialism, which is happening on a regular basis, is effectively a pogrom against the Palestinian people.
“Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been forthright with this expansionist agenda, stating today that he wants to change the Israeli land boundary to annex southern Lebanon, where Israel has blown up seven bridges, countless homes and displaced millions of civilians.
“These actions are grave violations of international law and represent a programme of ethnic cleansing – yet the Occupied Territories Bill, which this Government committed to passing, has disappeared from without a trace.
“Israel has been allowed to act with impunity while western States dawdle in the face of US intimidation regarding trade relations – this is cowardly and shameful.
“Israel has been explicit when it comes to its plans to eradicate the Palestinian people and take their land, now setting its eyes on Lebanon, yet only a handful of European countries, including Spain, Belgium and Slovenia, have challenged these crimes on the world stage.
“Our Government reminds us that Ireland was one of the first nations in Europe to recognise the State of Palestine; what will be the point in recognition when there is no Palestine left beyond dust and ash?
“It is pathetic that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael twiddle their thumbs and avert their gaze while innocents in Palestine and Gaza face annihilation. This destruction is a direct consequence of global inaction.
“The Government must pass the Occupied Territories Bill without delay and cease to be a bystander to one of the greatest crimes in recent history.”
March 24th, 2026