Take Action: FF-FG Program for Government must include Occupied Territories Bill commitment
It seems increasingly likely that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will form a coalition government together very soon. We believe that it is important that even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and the incredible strain and, sadly, increasing tragedy, that has been placed upon people in Ireland as a result, that we do not forget about our sisters and brothers in Palestine.
We are asking our supporters to write to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin, Fianna Fail foreign affairs spokesperson Seán Haughey, and to your local Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs to ask that a commitment to passing the Occupied Territories Bill to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine forms part of the Program for Government/’Framework Document’.
Their email addresses are:
Fine Gael: leo.varadkar@oir.ie, simon.coveney@oir.ie
Fianna Fáil: micheal.martin@oir.ie, sean.haughey@oir.ie
You can find your local TDs’ email addresses here by searching by constituency.
Experience has shown that it’s more effective to write your own messages – no matter how short or long – rather than copy and pasting a generic text. So while we ask you to compose your own email, here are some tips.
- Always be respectful, no matter your personal opinion of the parties or individual politicians.
- Be as brief as you can, and note that you understand that they are receiving huge amounts of correspondence every day due to people’s fears about the Covid-19 pandemic and containment measures.
- Note that although the Covid19 Pandemic is obviously the most urgent matter facing the Irish government right now, a Program for Government is for the next five years, not just the next five months, and foreign affairs and trade – not least in regard to Israel’s occupation and ongoing colonisation of Palestine – should be an extremely important aspect of that Program.
- When writing to Fianna Fail members, highlight that a commitment to passing the Occupied Territories Bill was in their election manifesto, and that people have put faith in them to deliver on this commitment.
- When writing to Fine Gael members, highlight that the vast majority of voters cast their ballots for parties that support the Occupied Territories Bill and that any government of change must listen to these people and act on that wide cross-party support.
- Note that we cannot simply abandon the Palestinian people, that action is needed, and Palestinians are calling for this legislation to be passed.
- Note that this legislation is required to bring Ireland into compliance with its of non-recognition of and non-assistance to serious breaches of international law. The current situation cannot be allowed to continue if the Ireland is serious about its commitments to human rights and the rule of law.”
- What Covid19 has made clear is that we live in hugely interconnected world and even small decisions and actions taken (or not taken), thousands of miles away can have huge effects on behaviour patterns and modes of operation. By passing the Occupied Territories Bill, Ireland has a chance to make a hugely positive contribution to the rule of international law – in Palestine and beyond.
At a time when Palestine, particularly the two million people in the illegally besieged Gaza Strip, stands on the brink of an even worse humanitarian catastrophe, and Israel’s regime of oppression continues to intensify, it’s more important than ever for the Irish government to enact this historic legislation.
We ask you to please take a few minutes to make this important contact with your politicians to let them know that even in the midst of global tragedy and uncertainty and fear here at home, you have not forgotten about the people of Palestine – and neither should they!
UPDATE: Our colleagues in the Comhlámh Trade Justice Group have created a petition calling on Fianna Fáil TDs to continue their support for the Occupied Territories Bill. You can sign that by clicking here.