Mary Regan: Flotilla fallout piles pressure on Coalition to act on Israel's actions in Gaza

A video showing Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting detained activists from the freedom flotilla emerged shortly before the Dáil voted against slapping sanctions on Israel. The motion had been proposed in November by People Before Profit/Solidarity, but the vote occurred in a different context. Richard Boyd Barrett criticized the Government’s decision as shameful and hypocritical, citing public support for the flotilla activists. The Government focused on coordinating a response at EU level, including renewing a push to suspend the EU-Israel association agreement, a tariff-free trade arrangement in place for 25 years. Ireland previously sought suspension alongside Spain and Slovenia, but Germany and Italy blocked it. The Foreign Affairs Minister said consensus-building was underway and that agreement had been reached to sanction violent settlers in the West Bank, with more sanctions planned.

"Just hours after a video emerged of the far-right Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting detained activists from the "freedom flotilla", the Dáil voted against slapping sanctions on Israel. The motion had first been proposed by People Before Profit/Solidarity back in November, but when it came to a vote late on Thursday night, it had been cast in a different context."

"Richard Boyd Barrett derided the Government's vote against it as "shameful" and "hypocritical", given its public support for the flotilla activists. But the Government was focused on a response at an EU level. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste were renewing a push for Europe to suspend the EU-Israel association agreement - the tariff-free trade arrangement that has been in place for a quarter of a century."

"In the Dáil, Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee sounded optimistic. The association agreement is under discussion around the EU table, she said. "We are taking a little time to build a consensus," Ms McEntee said. "Months ago, there was no discussion of how we would move or impose sanctions. There was nothing. I have, with colleagues from Slovenia and Spain, pushed for this issue to be put back on the agenda.""

"This is why, she said, there was agreement to sanction violent settlers in the West Bank. "That was one sanction that was on the table, and not before time, but there are more." With many Italians on the boat, Italy appeared to shift its position slightly. But while the Italian government called for an EU discussion on sanctions"

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