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126279
Sun, 06/06/2010 - 11:33
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http://m.oananews.org//node/126279
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Irish MEP calls for legal action against Israel
London, June 6, IRNA – Labour Member of the European Parliament for Dublin Proinsias de Rossa is calling on the Irish government to initiate legal action against Israel after its seizure of the Irish-registered Rachel Corrie.
"The Government and European Member States have a case to take against Israel for kidnapping Irish citizens and using armed force against shipping in International waters," de Rossa said also in reference to Israel’s massacres on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
"I urge the Irish government to instruct the Attorney General to prepare a case against Israel under the Geneva Conventions for hearing in Irish courts,” he said.
De Rossa was speaking at a Labour briefing in Dublin Saturday, where he stated that there was a prima facie case for legal action by member states against Israel for kidnapping their citizens and for the use of disproportionate and illegal armed force against shipping in international waters, from which there was no obvious threat.
"It is obvious that the latest breaches of international law by Israel requires a response which goes beyond the usual rhetoric and handwringing,” he said.
De Rossa, who has been a MEP for over 20 years, also suggested that the EU should impose sanctions against Israel, including the suspension of its trading agreement and the transfer of any moneys from programs like in research and development.
"While I welcome the various calls from the EU and the UN for an independent enquiry into the assault on the convoy, it must be clear by now that this enquiry has to be an international enquiry,” he further said in extracts of speech obtained by IRNA.
“An enquiry by Israel of itself, by itself, would not be credible, given its response to the findings of the Goldstone Report on the Israeli war on Gaza over a year ago which cost the lives of over 300 children,” the 70-year-old MEP warned.
Israel’s forcible seizure of the Rachel Corrie was also criticised by Sinn Féin's Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness as “unjustified and unacceptable.”
“They know the Rachel Corrie and her cargo presents no threat to Israel. The human rights activists on board the boat had made it clear they had no issue with UN officials checking the cargo before they proceeded to Gaza,” McGuiness said.
Earlier, Ireland’s Fine Gael shadow foreign minister Billy Timmins condemned Israel’s seizure of the Irish-owned humanitarian relief ship as “plain wrong.”
"This action should not have occurred and the ship should have been allowed to continue to Gaza,” said Timmins, who also called on Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin to ensure all Irish people in detention are allowed to travel home immediately.
“If Israel is to have no regard for international opinion, the international community must look at ways to increase the pressure," he warned./end
"The Government and European Member States have a case to take against Israel for kidnapping Irish citizens and using armed force against shipping in International waters," de Rossa said also in reference to Israel’s massacres on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
"I urge the Irish government to instruct the Attorney General to prepare a case against Israel under the Geneva Conventions for hearing in Irish courts,” he said.
De Rossa was speaking at a Labour briefing in Dublin Saturday, where he stated that there was a prima facie case for legal action by member states against Israel for kidnapping their citizens and for the use of disproportionate and illegal armed force against shipping in international waters, from which there was no obvious threat.
"It is obvious that the latest breaches of international law by Israel requires a response which goes beyond the usual rhetoric and handwringing,” he said.
De Rossa, who has been a MEP for over 20 years, also suggested that the EU should impose sanctions against Israel, including the suspension of its trading agreement and the transfer of any moneys from programs like in research and development.
"While I welcome the various calls from the EU and the UN for an independent enquiry into the assault on the convoy, it must be clear by now that this enquiry has to be an international enquiry,” he further said in extracts of speech obtained by IRNA.
“An enquiry by Israel of itself, by itself, would not be credible, given its response to the findings of the Goldstone Report on the Israeli war on Gaza over a year ago which cost the lives of over 300 children,” the 70-year-old MEP warned.
Israel’s forcible seizure of the Rachel Corrie was also criticised by Sinn Féin's Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness as “unjustified and unacceptable.”
“They know the Rachel Corrie and her cargo presents no threat to Israel. The human rights activists on board the boat had made it clear they had no issue with UN officials checking the cargo before they proceeded to Gaza,” McGuiness said.
Earlier, Ireland’s Fine Gael shadow foreign minister Billy Timmins condemned Israel’s seizure of the Irish-owned humanitarian relief ship as “plain wrong.”
"This action should not have occurred and the ship should have been allowed to continue to Gaza,” said Timmins, who also called on Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin to ensure all Irish people in detention are allowed to travel home immediately.
“If Israel is to have no regard for international opinion, the international community must look at ways to increase the pressure," he warned./end
