Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, John Brady TD, has spoken today following the historic debate which took place in the Dáil last night on Sinn Féin’s motion regarding the annexation of Palestinian lands by Israel.

The Wicklow TD said:

“There was a unanimous expression of support for Sinn Féin’s objective to have the Dáil become the first parliament in Europe to give recognition to the reality that Israel is guilty of the crime of annexation.

“The Dáil has also given recognition of the right to self-determination by the Palestinian people.

“The importance and the impact of this motion cannot be overstated.

“In the 1980s, Dunnes Stores workers took the courageous decision to strike rather than be forced to handle goods from the apartheid state of South Africa. This act of solidarity would soon echo around the world.

“The signalling of support which we witnessed in the Dáil last night for Sinn Féin’s motion, which will be voted on later today, is another historic victory for the principles of justice and equality.

“Pending the vote today, we in Ireland are on the cusp of creating a moment in history which will not only be heard around the world, but I believe we may well come to look back on as the moment that acted as the catalyst for the defeat of the Israeli policy of apartheid.

“It is important that the vote today receives the unanimous support of all TDs.

“It is important that the world hears Ireland speak as one on this issue.

“It is important that legislators in parliaments across Europe look at the example set by Ireland in adopting our motion, and work to pick up the baton of change in their own countries.

“We are on the cusp of setting in play a process that has the very real potential to shift the approach of not only the EU, but the wider international community.

“The apartheid regime of South Africa was only defeated when the international community was forced to act in a concerted manner through the moral force of argument against the South African regime.

“We have now set out the case here in Ireland against the apartheid regime of Israel as our national policy.

“We will vote today to formally adopt the motion.

“We must then immediately look to the next steps required to develop the momentum in Europe, at the UN, and across the international community to end the injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people daily.”