COUNTY Limerick politician Richard O’Donoghue voiced his concerns in the Dáil last week on a motion to expel the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich.
On Wednesday last (November 15), opposition motions were put to the floor calling for the withdrawal of the diplomatic status of the Israeli ambassador in Ireland.
However, countermotions put forward by the Government passed by 85 votes to 55. In their countermotions, the Government strongly condemning the attack by Hamas on the people of Israel on October 7 and also expressed “deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza.
Meanwhile, a Sinn Féin motion to refer Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation was also defeated by 80 votes to 60 as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters chanted outside the Dáil throughout the debate.
Speaking during the debate in the Oireachtas, County Limerick Rural Ireland Independent TD Richard O’Donoghue hit out that what Israel is doing is “disgusting” and “wrong”.
“Men, women, and children are suffering and dying needlessly,” he said. “I am looking at this from the point of view of a Deputy, father, brother, and nephew. What is happening here disgusts me.”
“People are calling for the Israeli ambassador to be expelled. The first thing I would have said would be to do this, then, after thinking about it, I would say that if one wants peace and if we have to negotiate with somebody for the release of people and for peace talks, closing the door puts Ireland out of any talks to try to bring peace,” he explained.
Deputy O’Donoghue took the view that the Israeli ambassador should, first of all, be told to appear in the Dáil to answer questions about why Israel is not involved in negotiations for peace and for people to be released straight away, and why it is stopping humanitarian aid from going into Gaza.
“If the ambassador refuses to come in here, to committees and into the Department, then we say to her that if she is not going to talk to us anyway, she can get out.
“Eleven thousand Palestinians, two thirds of them women and children, have been killed. Israel should absolutely be held to account for this and brought down for this, but when I look at the citizens who are still out there and how I can help to try to get them out of Gaza and to protect them, expelling the one person who we can have a link to puts us out of the talks completely.”
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, who had proposed the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador, asked the House at what point world leaders would “wake up and acknowledge the scale of Israel’s crimes in Gaza”.
“Irish people and people in countries all over the world who have marched for peace in Gaza in their millions are not fooled by this propaganda. They can see it for what it is, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and in flagrant breach of international law.
“Earlier, the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, referred to what is going on in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe. I agree. He then said that if the Government were to endorse our motion, Ireland would be pushed to the margins of international opinion. Given the opinions of the majority of western leaders, I am happy for Ireland to be an outlier,” she added.
County Limerick Sinn Fein Senator Paul Gavan also addressed the issue of the Israeli ambassador in the Seanad, saying: “It is in only the most exceptional circumstances that we should call for the expulsion of an ambassador, but I have to be frank. We are witnessing genocide. I do not think anyone really disagrees with that. Indeed the Deputy Leader used the word “holocaust” yesterday, which is justified in terms of what we are witnessing.”
“In these circumstances, when the Israeli Government makes it clear that it will not listen to anyone and continues carpet bombing and mass murdering children, women, and innocent civilians and the death toll is up to 11,000 or more, we have to do more.
“What I am calling for is a coalition of the willing in this respect to stand up because if we do not take this action now, history will reflect very poorly on all of us.”
