Brian Stanley: Calls for legislation to stop Israeli war bonds
Brian Stanley addressed the House about the slaughter in Gaza and urged the government to impose pressure on Israel, calling for legislation to stop the approval and sale of Israeli war bonds. He criticised the government's refusal to back ending the Central Bank's role in approving the bonds and highlighted conflicting statements from Antishuk and Central Bank governor Gabriel McClouf.
He cited UN reporting that, according to the transcript, over 500 starving women, men and children were mowed down while queuing in desperation for food, calling the situation reprehensible and shocking and saying there is a moral and political responsibility to act.
He said the government refused two weeks ago to back ending the Central Bank approving the perspective for the sale of Israeli war bonds. He pointed out that Antishuk claimed the Central Bank does not approve the bonds while governor Gabriel McClouf reportedly said the Central Bank could decline to approve them if nationally restrictive measures - legislation - were put in place.
He argued the law is clear and pressed the minister and government to agree and to back legislation in the House now to stop the perspective for the sale of Israeli war bonds, asking directly whether they would do so.
The minister acknowledged Gaza's situation as reprehensible and shocking, warned against attention shifting toward a wider Iran-Israel conflict, and defended the government's record, saying no government in Europe has done more to seek protection for the Palestinian people in Gaza. The minister said pressure should come through a coordinated European response, particularly on the EU-Israel trade agreement, and repeated that previously proposed domestic legislation was opposed because it "wouldn't have been workable" and that that position had not changed.
Allegations from Gaza
He cited UN reporting that, according to the transcript, over 500 starving women, men and children were mowed down while queuing in desperation for food, calling the situation reprehensible and shocking and saying there is a moral and political responsibility to act.
Central Bank and war bonds dispute
He said the government refused two weeks ago to back ending the Central Bank approving the perspective for the sale of Israeli war bonds. He pointed out that Antishuk claimed the Central Bank does not approve the bonds while governor Gabriel McClouf reportedly said the Central Bank could decline to approve them if nationally restrictive measures - legislation - were put in place.
Call for legislation in the House
He argued the law is clear and pressed the minister and government to agree and to back legislation in the House now to stop the perspective for the sale of Israeli war bonds, asking directly whether they would do so.
Government reply and European strategy
The minister acknowledged Gaza's situation as reprehensible and shocking, warned against attention shifting toward a wider Iran-Israel conflict, and defended the government's record, saying no government in Europe has done more to seek protection for the Palestinian people in Gaza. The minister said pressure should come through a coordinated European response, particularly on the EU-Israel trade agreement, and repeated that previously proposed domestic legislation was opposed because it "wouldn't have been workable" and that that position had not changed.
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Transcript
The slaughter in Gaza continues. According to the UN today, over 500 starving women, men and children have been mowed down by Israeli terrorists while queuing in desperation for food. There is a moral and political responsibility on us here to do everything possible to put pressure on the Israeli terrorist state. Two weeks ago, the government refused to do that by refusing to back the ending of the Central Bank approving the perspective for the sale of Israeli war bonds. Antishuk said that the Central Bank does not approve the bonds, but the governor of the Central Bank, Gabriel McClouf, has contradicted this. He said the Central Bank could decline to approve them if nationally restrictive measures were put in place, i.e. legislation. He said, in my view, the law is clear and the Central Bank has to approve the perspective for them. Do you agree with him? And will you and your government now back legislation in this House now to stop the perspective for the sale of Israeli war bonds? Thanks, Deputy. I agree with you, Deputy. What's happening in Gaza is reprehensible. It is shocking. One of the concerns I and government have is the fact that because attention is now focused to Iran and Israel's war with Iran, that focus has taken off Gaza. We can't allow that to happen. In fairness to the Irish government, no government in Europe has done more than the Irish government in seeking to advance the protection and cause of the Palestinian people in Gaza. I think we also need to recognise that the way we are going to put pressure on Israel is not simply through small pieces of legislation here. It is by trying to get a coordinated European response, particularly in respect of the EU-Israel trade agreement. But listen, we gave a response previously in respect of that legislation that was proposed. The government was opposed to it further down. It wouldn't have been workable, and that position hasn't changed, Deputy. Thank you, Deputy. Thank you, Deputy.