‘Palestine’s Call’ for statehood support sent direct to every TD and senator

EVERY TD AND SENATOR in the new Dáil is being written to by a range of Palestinian political groups, non-governmental agencies and civil society “calling on Ireland to be leading advocates in support of Palestine achieving statehood during this year of commemoration” of the 1916 Rising.

The appeal urges Irish political figures to use their influence in the EU and across the world “to help us, the people of Palestine, achieve a sovereign, independent Palestinian state”.

The letter, titled “Palestine’s Call”, is being co-ordinated by Sadaka – The Ireland Palestine Alliance and is being delivered this week.

It is signed by political legislators and representatives of NGOs and welfare organisations from Gaza, the West Bank and the Palestinian refugee community as well as religious leaders.

Signatories include prominent leading political figures and negotiators such as Dr Hanan Ashrawi, Dr Mustafa Barghouthi and Dr Nabeel Shaath.

● Dr Hanan Ashram – who served as the official spokesperson for the Palestinian Delegation to the Middle East Peace Process and was the first woman elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council – is one of the signatories to the letter to every member of the Irish Parliament in the 1916 centenary year urging action to achieve Palestine statehood

The letter says:

“Being elected in this year is particularly significant as Ireland celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising as a critical event in the ending of your colonial occupation and in the subsequent establishment of Ireland as a sovereign nation state.

“In this auspicious year . . . we ask that Ireland’s place amongst nations be as a leading advocate in supporting the Palestinian people to achieve nationhood, to afford us the opportunity to stand amongst the nations of the earth and to experience peace, justice and security for our future generations.”

It argues that a Palestinian state cannot be achieved by negotiations alone.

“The reality is that without serious and sustained sanctions being applied by the international community against the state of Israel to force it to comply with its obligations in accordance to international law and relevant resolutions, there will never be an independent Palestinian state.

“The proposition, endorsed by the EU and the wider international community (that a Palestinian state can be achieved by negotiations alone) amounts to supporting the continuation of Israeli occupation indefinitely.

“Israel will not withdraw from Palestinian territory voluntarily. It is in Israel’s interest to continue the illusion of ‘negotiating’ an agreement as it continues to expropriate more and more Palestinian territory.”

“Palestine’s Call” ends with the words:

“Your 1916 Proclamation speaks of the ‘exaltation’ of the Irish Republic ‘amongst the nations’.

“Ireland has a long, proud history of support for the struggle of the Palestinian people. In this auspicious year of commemoration, we ask that Ireland’s place amongst nations be as a leading advocate in supporting the Palestinian people to achieve nationhood, to afford us the opportunity to stand amongst the nations of the earth and to experience peace, justice and security for our future generations.

“We, the undersigned, as representatives of the Palestinian people, call upon you to do all in your power as a nation state and as a member of the EU to exert pressure on the state of Israel, through the use of sanctions and other parliamentary actions, to end its illegal occupation of Palestine and to grant the Palestinian people our rights in accordance with UN resolutions and international law.”