Dáil will vote next week on expelling Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich

The party’s foreign affairs spokesperson Gary Gannon tabled a motion today calling on the Government to “withdraw the diplomatic status” of the Ambassador “given the failure of the Israeli state to cease the deliberate targeting of civilians, journalists, UN staff and healthcare workers”.

A number of other parties have called for Ms Erlich to be expelled due to the continued breaches of international law by Israel during its more than month-long war in Gaza.

Sinn Féin has called for the ambassador to be expelled after pressure mounted on party leader Mary Lou McDonald from activists over her refusal to call for Ms Erlich to go.

Israeli ambassador’s position is ‘now untenable’, says Mary Lou McDonald

However, Sinn Féin has refused to table a motion calling for her to be stripped of her diplomatic status. Sinn Féin is the only opposition party that can table motions every week. The other smaller parties have to wait until it is their turn in the weekly rotation.

People Before Profit said they would table a motion later this month when they have an opportunity to use the Dáil to call for the expulsion.

Sinn Féin are using their motion next week to call on the Government to refer Israel to the International Criminal Court due to their continued attacks on civilians in Gaza.

However, the motion, which is being tabled by Sinn Féin’s foreign affairs spokesperson Matt Carthy, does not appear to call for the Israeli ambassador to be expelled.

Mr Gannon’s motion also calls for Israel to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

However, he goes further, in calling on the Government to advocate at an EU level for economic sanctions on Israel, including the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The agreement includes a clause which allows the deal to be suspend for a serious breaches of human rights.

Mr Gannon is also calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Horizon Europe Association Agreement and Israel’s access to the €95 billion Horizon Europe fund for research and innovation.

The Dublin Central TD also wants the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023 enacted as a matter of urgency.

The motion also states: “EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen’s unequivocal support for Israel, despite its flouting of international law, has seriously undermined the EU’s response to this crisis.”

“A war crime is defined by the nature of the act – not the identity of the perpetrator,” it adds.

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