Sir, – This time last year, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, chaired by Charles Flanagan TD, published a comprehensive report on demolitions and displacement in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The rationale for this report was a reported increase in demolitions, including buildings that had been constructed and refurbished by funding from Ireland. The report called for an end to “further evictions, transfer of settlers, demolitions, land appropriations, and pillage of natural resources” in the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, so far this year Israel has demolished 396 structures resulting in 496 displaced persons, compared to the 2021 “high” of 911 demolitions and 1209 demolitions last year.
Demolitions are typically carried out due to to lack of Israeli-issued permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain; as punitive demolitions; and to facilitate military activities. Almost 20 per cent of the occupied West Bank is designated as “firing zones”.
One of these Zones is an area in the South Hebron Hills called Masafer Yatta – Firing Zone 918. In May, the Israeli higher court of justice ruled that there were no legal barriers to the planned expulsion of Palestinian residents, several dozen of whom have now been evicted, some of them for the third time.
These people are almost entirely dependant on humanitarian assistance to survive. Such assistance is now under threat due to “stop work” orders, confiscation of vehicles and equipment, and restrictions on physical access to the area.
The Oireachtas report was an important statement on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. It represents a principled position on the unacceptability of Israel’s occupation and settlement activities.
However, it is clear that stronger political measures are required such as that proposed in the Frances Black Bill to stop the trade in goods from illegal settlements, including in Palestine.
It is high time that our politicians took the next step in support of their principles and progress legislation to sanction states which flout international law. – Yours, etc,
MOIRA LEYDON,
Trim,
Co Meath.
Sir, – The evident murder of a journalist by Israeli forces is to be condemned. It is unfair, however, to use this event to suggest that Israel is totally unwilling to negotiate with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank (Letters, July 12th).
The Palestinian Authority is also reluctant to negotiate and refuses to hold elections, fearing condemnation and a takeover by Hamas. Hamas, which governs and claims to represent the people of Gaza, is under the control of Iran and their political intransigence has also contributed to the poverty in the Gaza Strip. To the north, Lebanon has been crippled by Hizbullah activists, also under Iranian control.
The current stalemate is due to the unfortunate choice of extremist positions taken by the Israeli right wing and is matched by the surrender of self-determination of the Palestinian people to outsiders. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE TANNAM,
Firhouse,
Dublin 24.