Palestinian ambassador to Ireland thanks Irish government for 'recognition of our rights'

Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid 

The Palestinian ambassador to Ireland thanked the Government for a "recognition of our rights".

Her response follows the news that Ireland will recognise Palestine as a state, which resulted in the recall of Israel's ambassador to Ireland.

Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid said that her reaction to the announcement was “positive and emotional”.

“I think it's the time it's not just symbolic, it's a recognition of our rights, of 13 million people, of Palestinian people to self-determination, and to live in peace and security in a sovereign state. That acknowledgment of recognition is highly welcomed by the Palestinian leadership. And, of course by all the Palestinians," she told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.

“What's going on in Gaza at the minute and in the West Bank needs the international community to take action. This action, the recognition of the rights of the Palestinians, people that give hope to the Palestinians, that they are seen, they are heard. They are not alone. And the international community believes in their rights, to live in peace and security in their sovereign state.” 

Dr Abdalmajid said that Ireland had lead the way and had worked hard with other countries at UN level and within the EU which had resulted in the recognition which was “something very good, very strong”.

“Someone should take the lead and say to the international community that this must stop. And the Palestinian people deserve to have their own state, to live in peace and security in the region. We cannot just live in this war forever.” 

Palestine deserved to be recognised as a state, she added. “We are 13 million, we deserve this right. Our right to self-determination, our aspiration for freedom. This will come, the Palestinian people deserve this.” 

 Thousands of people took part in A National March for Palestine in Dublin earlier this month. The march was commemorating the Palestinian Nakba and call for the Irish government to sanction Israel for genocide.

Neither the Palestinians nor the Israelis deserved to live in war forever, she said. “We deserve, to live in peace and security. And the Israeli children, the Palestinian children deserve to live in peace and security for their life. We deserve this. And the international community must help us to achieve this.”

Pivotal stride towards justice and peace

Irish charity ActionAid Ireland has welcomed the news, describing it as “a pivotal stride towards justice and peace for Palestinians”.

ActionAid Ireland CEO, Karol Balfe, said acknowledging Palestine's statehood is not only a principled stance, but also a vital measure in rectifying the enduring injustices faced by the Palestinian people.

“Despite the promise of never again, Gaza is experiencing amongst the worst levels of violence in modern history with an unbearable loss of innocent lives. The International Court of Justice has clearly set out the risk of a plausible genocide and a human-made famine is underway.”

She also welcomed comments from Taoiseach Simon Harris connecting Ireland’s history with Palestine’s aspirations to have self-determination.

“Having their own state is, first and foremost, a right of the Palestinian people. A right recognized by the international community and enshrined in several United Nations General Assembly resolutions.”

Caoimhe de Barra, CEO of Trócaire, described the recognition of the State of Palestine as "very welcome", but one that must be followed up with "decisive action" by Ireland and other member states.

This will help Palestinians realise this right to self-determination, she said.

"The right to self-determination is an integral element of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms and yet the State of Israel, through its persecution and dispossession of Palestinians, has systematically denied them this right for decades."

Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Minister Eamon Ryan hold a press conference at government buildings this morning, where they announced that Ireland will officially recognise the state of Paelstine. 

Today's announcement formally recognises the State of Palestine at a time "where there is very little left of Palestine to recognise".

"As a result, today the fulfilment of this right for Palestinians has never seemed further away, let alone the possibility of a sovereign Palestinian state," she added.

"Frankly, terrible"

Oliver Sears, founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland, has described the timing of the Irish State’s recognition of Palestine as “frankly, terrible.” 

Mr Sears said he wanted peace for the region and supported a Palestinian state, but timing was everything.

“We all want peace in this region. I've been a committed peacenik who has wanted a Palestinian state for as long as I'm aware of this region and this crisis. I think timing is everything. I think the timing is, frankly, terrible. You can't force peace on two warring parties. You have to create an atmosphere where there is at least the beginning of trust between the parties. We know this from the long peace negotiations that happened in the north of this country," Mr Sears said.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Sears said the Irish Government’s action was emotional but not practical and did not recognise how the region was going to find peace.

When asked how he thought the Jewish community in Ireland would regard the decision to recognise the Palestinian State, Mr Sears said there will be feelings of disappointment.

“They know that this has been coming. My sense is that they will be very disappointed because they see it as a reward to Hamas. And everybody in the community is sickened by what's going on. Most Jews I talked to are absolutely in favour of a two state solution. It's just the timing.”