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Government must clarify when it will enact the Occupied Territories Bill

The government’s inability to clarify when it will enact the Occupied Territories Bill is shameful, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “In response to Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns during today’s leaders’ questions, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that the Occupied Territories Bill is considered priority legislation and […]

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Growing support for a two-state solution to Middle East conflict must go beyond mere symbolism

Growing recognition of Palestinian statehood by the international community, while welcome, must be matched with punitive sanctions to force Israel to end its genocidal campaign in Gaza, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “Following yesterday’s declarations by the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal, today’s session of the UN General […]

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Ireland must push for full suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement

EU member states must be persuaded to back European Commission proposals to partially suspend the bloc’s trade agreement with Israel and impose sanctions on violent settlers and extremist ministers, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “After almost two years of genocide in Gaza, it is incredible that the EU […]

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Proposed EU sanctions on Israel do not go far enough

The European Commission President’s proposed sanctions on Israel, while a belated step in the right direction, fall well short of what’s required to stop the genocide in Gaza, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “We are now almost two years into this devastating conflict, which has left more than […]

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Credibility of international community at stake as UN General Assembly gets underway

Decisions made in relation to Gaza and Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly over the next few weeks will serve as a marker of the international community’s credibility and humanity, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “With the Trump administration’s refusal to grant visas to the Palestinian delegation […]

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Tánaiste must act after German police viciously beat Irish Gaza activist

This kind of treatment of a peaceful protestor is horrific and completely unacceptable Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris must raise the brutal treatment of a peaceful Irish protestor by German police with the German ambassador, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “A shocking video, circulating on social […]

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Israel’s plan to ‘erase’ Palestine highlights urgent need for Ireland to pass Occupied Territories Bill

The Israeli government’s intention to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank underscores the importance of Ireland enacting the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB) without further delay, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “The approval of the E1 project, which would bisect the occupied West Bank and cut it off […]

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Government must act on Foreign Affairs Committee’s report and include services in Occupied Territories Bill

The government must enact the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB) without delay following today’s finding by the Foreign Affairs Committee that there is no legal impediment to including services, as well as goods, in the legislation, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “The committee’s report, published today, clearly demonstrates that […]

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