Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
134. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade given the continuing and escalating aggression by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territories, resulting in a number of deaths including those of teenagers, if it is now time to call for sanctions to be imposed on Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37691/15]
View answerIn relation to the deteriorating and deeply concerning situation in the occupied territory, I would refer the Deputy to my replies today to a number of Questions from himself and other Deputies which appeared earlier on the Order Paper.
It is of course important to recognize that this spiral of events has led to a number of deaths in both communities, not just on one side.
The question of sanctions on Israel is regularly proposed for one reason or another. As successive Ministers have explained, there is no possibility whatever of a consensus at EU level on sanctions on Israel. No Irish Government has considered that such sanctions would be effective or help end the conflict.
