URGENT: As leaders meet TODAY to discuss OTB – Tell Leo Varadkar & Fine Gael it’s time to support the Bill!

The headline in today’s Irish Independent reads ‘Leaders meet with talks deadlocked over carbon taxes, housing and Israel’. The article goes on to say that a “crunch summit” TODAY “is expected to focus on proposals to ban the importation of Israeli goods produced in occupied Palestinian territories, as this issue has been passed on to the leaders after the negotiators could not reach agreement.”

Your lobbying is working, together we have managed to push the Occupied Territories Bill to forefront of the government formation agenda! We are thrilled to hear that both Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have been pushing for the Occupied Territories Bill to be in the Program for Government. Sadly, however, Fine Gael continue to oppose it, based on unpublished legal advice.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE & WE NEED TO ACT TODAY!

So we are asking all those who support Palestinian rights to take a few minutes TODAY to contact Fine Gael leader Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney – and to also CC your local Fine Gael TDs/Senators and urge them to reverse the current FG position.  

You can find the contact details for each below – or tag Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney on Twitter (along with Micheal Martin and Eamon Ryan).

Even if you think Fine Gael will not be moved, there is nothing to lose and everything to be gained – every little bit of political pressure exerted helps to progress attitudes (remember that just over two years ago Fianna Fáil said they couldn’t support the Bill – last year they introduced the legislation into the Dáil). Time is of the essence, tomorrow may be too late! 

THIS REALLY IS THE FINAL PUSH FOR THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES BILL – AND YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL – WE CAN GET IT OVER THE LINE!

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 – an aggressive tone will immediately turn people off.
• Be as brief as you can, shorter messages are more likely to be read in full.
• Note that you agree with Simon Coveney that both Israeli settlements and Israel’s plan to annex yet more Palestinian land are illegal and that something must be done.
• Say that you are aware that Fine Gael’s opposition to the Bill hinges on the unpublished advice of the Attorney General, but note that this advice is not cast iron – other legal opinions from eminent jurists such as Michael Lynn SC, James Crawford SC, Prof. Takis Tridimas, and former AG Michael McDowell all argue that the Bill violates no EU laws.
• Note that the advice of the Attorney General is just that, advice, and that in past the views of AGs have been disregarded by their successors. For example, in the 1980s when AG Peter Sutherland argued that a ban on goods from Apartheid South Africa would contravene EEC law, his successor AG John Rogers argued the opposite, and Ireland became the first EEC country to introduce such a ban. We have a chance to pass this equally historic legislation in support of oppressed peoples.
• If Fine Gael wish to address legal concerns with the Bill, at the very least they can commit to reintroducing it for further debate in Committee Stage where the key EU legal issues can be answered.
• 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, and that the Bill is supported by current UN Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights in Palestine Michael Lynk, and former Special Rapporteurs John Dugard and Richard Falk.

• Highlight that the vast majority of voters cast their ballots for parties that vocally 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 abandon the Palestinian people especially now with Israel’s plan to illegally annex yet more Palestinian land, that action is needed, and Palestinians are calling for this legislation to be passed.
• 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.

We ask you to please take a few minutes to make this important contact with Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and your local Fine Gael TDs and Senators 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!

Find you local TD and/or Senator here

Posted May 29, 2020 in Action Item, Apartheid, Campaigns, Email Campaign, EU, Human Rights, International Law, Irish Government, National Rights, Political Rights, Press releases, Settlements, War Crimes, West Bank.