PALESTINENEWSLETTER NUACHTLITIR PHALAISTÍNEACHSHINN FÉIN June - November 2018

BOYCOTT DIVESTMENT & SANCTIONS: EUROVISION 2019 IN ISRAEL Sinn Féin supports: • The national and democratic rights of the Palestinian people living under occupation or in exile • The right to Palestinian Statehood. • The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign Sinn Féin condemns: • The continuing annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem • The forced removal of Palestinian citizens and the building of illegal settlements Sinn Féin support calls for Ireland • The continued siege of Gaza • The use of all repressive mea- to boycott 2019 Eurovision in Israel sures and draconian laws such as Sinn Féin support takeover of Palestinian Law through illegal ‘Administrative Detention’ which in calls for RTÉ and the lands in the occupied settlement building reality is ‘Internment without trial’ Irish government West Bank and East and the murder of and the recent racist and apartheid to boycott the 2019 Jerusalem. There was Palestinians in Gaza, ‘nation-state’ legislation passed in Eurovision which is set no mention of equality which they have turned the Knesset to take place in Israel. or minority rights in into an open air prison. Sinn Féin demands: Boycotting this any part of the bill. The arts, music • The implementation of UN competition would In recent years, and indeed sport resolutions and the enforcement of be an opportunity to increasing numbers have a key role to international law ‘shine the spotlight’ on of major sporting, play in sending a Sinn Féin calls on the Irish the slaughter of the cultural and music strong message Government to: Palestinians. figures have joined internationally in • Formally recognise the State of The recent passing calls from the rejection of the Palestine on the basis of the 1967 of the Jewish international Boycott, brutality carried out borders with East Jerusalem as its Nation State Bill’, Divestment and against Palestinians by capital marginalises 1.8 Sanctions (BDS) Israeli state forces. • Expel the Israeli Ambassador to million Palestinians. campaign, not to As members of the Ireland in protest against continued It promotes the perform in Israel. European Broadcasting Israeli aggression construction The 2019 Eurovision Union, that organises • Immediately stop procuring all military equipment from Israeli of Jewish-only Song Contest, which is the Eurovision song manufacturers settlements. It revokes world renowned, is set contest, RTÉ and and • Support efforts to establish a the status of Arabic to take place in Israel. the Irish government credible peace process involving and makes Hebrew The Eurovision Song need to take a firm representatives of the Palestinian the country’s official Contest should not stand against this and Israeli people respecting all language. be used as a tool for sectarian bill and democratic mandates Prime Minister Israel to whitewash commit to boycotting • Support the international commu- Benjamin Netanyahu’s its daily human rights the Eurovision in 2019. nity in developing a new, collective government can now abuse, breaches - MEP initiative to bring an end to the war expand the state’s of International -Sinéad Ennis MLA against the Palestinian people. www.sinnfein.ie 1 Sinn Féin Palestine Newsletter Nuacht Litir Phalaistíneach Shinn Féin Senior Fatah representative addresses 2018 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis

ONE of the main International a horrible abominable thing. we have adopted but I will not guests to address the 2018 And I want to remind you that conceal from you doing a soul Sinn Féin Ard Fheis was Dr we, the Palestinian people, searching exercise 25 years Afif Safieh, Fatah’s Deputy have suffered three successive after the beginning of the peace Commissioner for International denials. process one has to admit today Relations. “First came the denial of during the theoretical years During his presentation, Dr our mere physical existence, of peace making that what we Afif said: those who wanted to colonise have witnessed was not the “I wish to express my political our country pretended that withdrawal of occupation but gratitude to Ireland and the Palestine was a land without the expansion of occupation.” people of Ireland because you a people for a people without are among the first to hear our a land. Our mere physical cry for freedom out of captivity existence was denied. and bondage. “Then as you know we were “We, the Palestinian people, denied our National and have been the victims of the individual rights and we were victims of European history collectively uprooted and and as a result we never expedited to the periphery of got our legitimate share of our homeland. Dr Afif Safieh addressing the 2018 understanding, sympathy and “And third, and this is worse, Ard Fheis in Belfast’s Waterfront solidarity. ‘But not in Ireland. up to today we are being denied You heard our cry for freedom the recognition of the historical and for that I want to express injustice that was inflicted our full gratitude. on us, the recognition of our “You know those who chose to sufferings and how often dear be our enemies have mobilised friends we the Palestinians have against us God, The Bible, Hitler, to hear our sufferings being The Holocaust and Hollywood. trivialised.” Believe you me that’s a tough “We engaged in a peace challenge. I am against process in good faith and I was Dr Afif Safieh with Sinn Féin historical denials. The Holocaust one of the architects of that President Mary Lou McDonald TD denial is a very obnoxious and principled pragmatism that at the 2018 Ard Fheis Crowe condemns new ‘racist and apartheid’ Israeli legislation Sinn Féin Foreign language in Israel and defines Arabs as second-class citizens Affairs spokesperson Hebrew as the country’s only and it is a form of apartheid. Seán Crowe TD has official language. “I completely condemn condemned the controversial “It states that the this legislation and call on new ‘Jewish nation-state’ establishment of Jewish only the Irish Government to do law passed by the Israeli communities, including illegal likewise. The Irish Government Parliament calling it racist and colonial settlements, are in the must stop appeasing Israel’s apartheid legislation. national interest. apartheid. Deputy Seán Crowe said: “The legislation states that “The propagating of illegal “This new legislation is only Jewish people ‘have an colonial and Jewish only racist and sectarian and will exclusive right to national self- settlements in this legislation lead to blatant discrimination determination’ in Israel and it shows the disregard Israel against Palestinians and also states that an undivided politicians really have for a two Arabs. Jerusalem is the capital of state solution.” “The law demotes the Israel. legal standing of the Arabic “This new legislation treats www.sinnfein.ie 2 Sinn Féin Palestine Newsletter Nuacht Litir Phalaistíneach Shinn Féin

Government must recognise the State of Palestine - Mary Lou McDonald Speaking in the Dáil on United Nations General that effect was passed the visit by the President Assembly in New York. by the Dáil in 2014. The of the Palestinian “I want to warmly Seanad did likewise. Authority, Mahmoud welcome the President’s “There is also a Abbas, to Ireland in visit to Ireland. commitment contained September, Sinn Féin “I understand that in the Programme for President Mary Lou President Abbas met with Government, yet the McDonald TD called the Tánaiste on Saturday government continues to on the Taoiseach to evening to discuss a drag its heels. recognise the State of number of issues; not “Now is the time Palestine. least the ongoing illegal for us to afford official Teachta McDonald said: blockade of Gaza and recognition to the State “The Palestinian the State’s recognition of of Palestine, which is President Mahmoud the State of Palestine - the agreed position of Abbas makes a historic which is now long, long the Oireachtas, and is first visit to Ireland on his overdue. a necessary position in way to a meeting of the “A Sinn Féin motion to international terms.” Occupied Territories vote a ‘momentous step’ - Ó Donnghaile Sinn Féin Seanadóir Niall from settlements that exist on daily basis to make way for the Ó Donnghaile has welcomed the illegally occupied land in Palestine. construction of these settlements. decision by members of the Seanad “These goods and services are “We can’t stand idly by and ignore to support the Occupied Territories only available due to war crimes this abuse of human rights. The Bill. carried out by the Israeli state by Irish people have a proud history The Bill, which seeks to ban goods completely disregarding the Fourth of standing against apartheid and and services from illegal Israeli Geneva Convention. occupation. settlements, will now advance to “Palestinians are forced from This vote is a crucial step towards the committee stage. their homes, schools are destroyed enshrining this in law.” Seanadóir Ó Donnghaile said: and people are displaced on a “The vote in the Seanad to support the Occupied Territories Bill was the right thing to ensure that Ireland is on the map as standing against violations of International Law. “This is also a momentous step towards officially banning the import and sale of goods, services and natural resources which come Sen. Niall Ó Donnghaile, Sen. & Ambassador Ahmad Abdelrazek Say no to Israeli apartheid in sport - Pat Sheehan Sinn Féin of Belfast have Gaza. national team MLA Pat Sheehan a proud history “Sinn Féin from flourishing addressed a demo of standing in support the internationally and in West Belfast solidarity with the Boycott, restricts young against the IFA’s people of Palestine Divestment Palestinians from decision to host against the brutal and Sanctions developing their an International and oppressive campaign and soccer skills. friendly with the Israeli regime. have outlined “The Israeli Israeli soccer “The IFA our objections government must team. welcomed the to the IFA as we hear our voices The demo took Israeli soccer believe hosting in opposition to place on Saturday team to Belfast for this friendly is the their mass killings, 8 September at 12 an international wrong thing to do. human rights noon at Belfast’s friendly on the “Disgraceful violations and International Wall. back of Israeli restrictions placed flagrant violations The West Belfast military murdering on Palestinians of international MLA said: hundreds of prohibits the law.” “The people Palestinians in Palestinian

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International community must hold Israel accountable – Hazzard international and democracy in negotiations. MP addressed a community then it Palestine. “But Israeli rally at Downing must comply with “At this time the society is not a Street against the the standards of Israeli government monolith. masacres in Gaza. behaviour which the has no interest in “Those of us who The South Down rest of the world negotiating a just believe in freedom MP said: demands. and democratic and justice have “The authority “Properly settlement. a responsibility to of United Nations constituted, “It will not be help build political resolutions must be inclusive committed to that momentum upheld. negotiations, objective until and alliances, “The Israeli state good faith, and sufficient political and to apply the cannot have it both confidence building and diplomatic required pressure ways. measures are pressure changes upon the Israeli “If it wants to the foundations the balance of government.” be treated as a of the road map forces and brings member of the to deliver peace it into proper One-way ticket home for Israeli ambassador - Mairéad Farrell Sinn Féin Councillor Mairéad civilians and currently hold hundreds Farrell has called on the Irish of children in jails. government to show leadership by “We need to continue to build recognising the State of Palestine momentum by protesting against the and expelling the Israeli ambassador continued slaughter of Palestinian immediately. men, women and children by the Addressing a solidarity rally outside Israeli military. the Israeli embassy in , the “Enough is enough. This is the time Galway City Councillor said: for action. These massacres cannot “The situation in Gaza is nothing be allowed to continue without short of a massacre. Hundreds have international sanction. been killed by Israeli forces since “Sinn Féin will continue to argue for March this year. justice, rights and peace in Palestine “The Irish people cannot stand and make our voice heard against the by and ignore the abuse of human abuse of International Law. rights, we have a proud history of “The Irish government have a standing against apartheid and responsibility to stand up and be occupation. counted, they should gave the Israeli “The Israeli government who have ambassador a one-way ticket home turned Gaza into an open air prison, and give full recognition to the State Aaron Ó Ruairc (ÓSF) & demolished homes, murdered of Palestine.” Cllr. Mairéad Farrell welcomes the release of teenager Ahed Tamimi Sinn Féin MEP “Ahed was community, including Martina Anderson persecuted for our own governments, has welcomed the defending her family is deafening. They have release of Palestinian and community from a duty to uphold the teenager, Ahed brutal, aggressive rights of children and Tamimi, after eight Israeli oppressors. She demand their release. months in an Israeli was not prepared to “The Irish prison. bow down. government must Martina Anderson “There are currently live up to their said: 350 other Palestinian commitments by “Ahed Tamimi’s children held in Israeli recognising the detention and prisons today, the State of Palestine as subsequent case of Ahed Tamimi agreed by the Dáil, but imprisonment was brought their struggle also to do the right completely wrong and to the national stage. thing by immediately I welcome her release “The silence of expelling the Israeli back to her family. the international ambassador.” www.sinnfein.ie 4 Sinn Féin Palestine Newsletter Nuacht Litir Phalaistíneach Shinn Féin Sinn Féin’s Pat Sheehan addresses conference in Ramallah, Palestine

Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan representatives from the legal reiterated our call for the travelled to Ramallah in and academic sector were in immediate expulsion of the Palestine at the request of ‘The attendance. Israeli ambassador to Ireland, Policy and Conflict Resolution Pat Sheehan said: for the Irish government to Studies Center’ (PCRSC). He “In line with our long history recognise the State of Palestine spoke at a conference in the of solidarity with the Palestinian and for the international ‘Arab American University’ people and the Palestinian community to develop a new, addressing their annual cause I travelled to Ramallah to collective initiative to bring conference on the theme address the PCRSC conference, an end to the war against the ‘Where do we go from here: sharing our experience of the Palestinian people.” Palestine between the Local, Irish peace process with our Regional and the Global’. friends in Palestine. The key note speaker at the “Recently, we had the opening of the conference was pleasure of Dr Afif Safieh, Mr Nickolay E. Mladenov, the Deputy Commissioner of UN special Coordinator for the International Relations Fatah, Middle East Peace process. addressing our national Other international guests in conference. At that conference attendance included Dr Ryad we recommitted ourselves Pat Sheehan addressing the conference in the Mansour, Permanent Observer to assist in doing whatever Arab American University in Ramallah of Palestine to UN and Mr Tor was possible to highlight the Vinslad, Norwegian Middle East oppression of the Palestinian Peace Envoy. people and expose on-going Senior Palestinian Israeli aggression. Dr Afif representatives; Dr Saeb warmly welcomed our efforts in Erekat, Secretary General advancing peace in the Middle PLO Executive Committee, East and thanked us for our and Dr Mustafa Barghouti, continuing support. Secretary General Palestinian “The PCRSC event provided

National Initiative (PNI), also further opportunities to build Pat Sheehan at the Nelson Mandela addressed the conference. relations with our Palestinian Memorial in Ramallah Many other senior civic society brothers and sisters. I also Gavan condemns Israeli mistreatment of Palestinian minors Sinn Féin Senator Paul Israeli military courts, prison found that two-thirds of Gavan has condemned the is almost guaranteed. the Palestinian minors who treatment of Palestinian “A report published by testified about their arrest and minors in the Israeli justice Israeli human rights group incarceration in 2017 reported system during a debate in the B’Tselem shows how the that they were subjected to Council of Europe. military court system has a violence and physical abuse by Senator Gavan said: conviction rate that exceeds 95 soldiers during their custody. “Israel is the only country in percent for minors. “This has been backed the world that automatically “At the end of June 2018, 273 up by UNICEF reports into prosecutes children in military Palestinian minors were held the issue which revealed courts that lack fundamental in Israeli prisons as security systemic human rights and fair rights and guarantees. detainees and prisoners, child rights abuses by Israel In Israeli civilian courts, including 3 administrative in its detention of Palestinian detention is always a last detainees. minors.” resort for a minor, but when it “A report released this comes to Palestinian minors in year by Military Court Watch www.sinnfein.ie 5 Sinn Féin Palestine Newsletter Nuacht Litir Phalaistíneach Shinn Féin Israeli ambassador not welcome at Queen’s University Belfast!

Sinn Féin led a Student “The ambassador is a at this matter and to highlight Protest inside and outside representative of the Israeli the plight of the Palestinian Queen’s University against the government who are involved people.” visit of Israeli ambassador to in murder and human rights Britain, Mark Regev in October abuse against the Palestinian 2018. people whilst also endorsing Regev arrived to speak to their apartheid policies. a class of students and was “Over recent months we have met with blocked corridors of seen the slaughter of hundreds students who staged a sit in to of Palestinians - men, women interrupt the visit. and children - by the Israeli Protests continued outside army. This is disgraceful. with hundreds of students, “Sinn Féin support the trade unions, political parties Boycott, Divestment and and Palestinian solidarity Sanctions (BDS) campaign groups sending a clear which includes an cultural and message to the ambassador academic boycott of Israel. that apartheid is not welcome “The collapse of the South at Queen’s University. African apartheid regime Meanwhile, MLA Caoimhe proved the effectiveness Archibald has expressed of cultural, academic and concern at the decision by economic boycott as a way of Queen’s University to invite securing change. Israeli ambassador Mark Regev “Queen’s University should to speak at an event on campus. not associate itself with Israeli The party’s Further and government representatives Higher Education spokesperson whilst these actions continue said: and whilst the Israelis refuse “I am deeply concerned that to engage in meaningful Queen’s University has invited negotiations. the Israeli ambassador to speak “I have written to the Vice- on campus. Chancellor to express concern

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Kick Israel out of UEFA: No to Sportwashing! - Ó Donnghaile Sinn Féin Senator Niall Ó fixtures due to disgraceful restrictions “UEFA have a responsibility not to put Donnghaile called on the Football placed on them by the Israelis. countries in the position of facing Israel Association of Ireland to pull out of a “Sinn Féin support the Boycott, in competitive fixtures by expelling U21 Euro Qualifier which took place in Divestment and Sanctions campaign them from their competitions while Israel. which involves the economic, cultural Israel continues its onslaught against Niall met with the FAI Chief Executive and sporting boycott of the Israeli state. the Palestinian people.” along with Sinéad Ennis MLA at Leinster House to raise this matter directly. Niall Ó Donnghaile said: “I met with the FAI and asked them to reconsider their Under 21 Euro Qualifier taking place in Israel. “Israel is an apartheid state which is involved in the slaughter of Palestinian civilians, flagrant human rights abuses while showing complete disregard for international law. “Palestinian footballers and facilities have been deliberately targeted by Israeli military and the national team blocked from partaking in international Supporting the People of Palestine across Ireland

sinn féin meps protesting in eu parliament against the SENATOR AT THE LAUNCH OF ‘BOYCOTT EUROVISION 2019’ destruction of West bank village, khan al-ahmar. campaign alongside ipsc, artists and actors.

Francie Molloy addressing an emergency rally at Downing street as rally at free derry corner coincing with kick off in the ifa’s Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met the British Prime Minister friendly against israel at windsor park.

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