Tánaiste urges other countries to recognise Palestine as a state 

People taking part in a protest organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign outside the Central Bank in Dublin on Tuesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Simon Harris will mark the first anniversary of Ireland saying it would recognise the state of Palestine by urging other countries to “consider taking this important step”.

The Tánaiste also reiterated his commitment to advance legislation prohibiting trade in goods with illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

“Work on this will be taken forward in the coming weeks,” he said.

A man was arrested in the Dáil on Tuesday evening when a group began shouting “shame”, “stop the genocide”, and “free Palestine”.

A group of pro-Palestine protesters were escorted from Leinster House after their protest led to the suspension of the Dáil this evening. See link at the foot of this article. 

Proceedings had to be suspended when a commotion began in the visitor’s gallery, where the group of pro-Palestinian protesters were seated.

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe was speaking when the large group began to chant, wave signs and flags, and bang on the safety glass.

Leinster House ushers and gardaí attempted to remove the group.

Palestinians inspect the damage at school used as a shelter by displaced residents that was hit by Israeli military strike and killed at least 36 people, in Gaza on Monday. Picture: Jehad Alshrafi/AP

The disruption lasted several minutes before the man was arrested. The group continued their protest outside the gates of Leinster House.

The protest happened during a debate on a Sinn Féin bill calling for the Central Bank to stop facilitating the sale of Israeli war bonds.

Another protest to coincide with that debate, and organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, took place outside the meeting of the Central Bank Commission at the Central Bank of Ireland HQ in Dublin.

People taking part in a protest organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign outside the Central Bank in Dublin on Tuesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Palestinian author and actor Abdelfattah Abusrour said the fact that Ireland recognises the state of Palestine is one thing, but what the Government actually needs to do is cut all trade with Israel.

“Israel is committing the most barbaric atrocities the world has seen for years against the Palestinian people,” he told the Irish Examiner.

“But what the Palestinians want more than anything is for the killing and the bombing to stop. The world must stop doing business with Israel.

“Just saying you recognise Palestine, and you are working on banning a few hundred thousand worth of goods from the occupied territories, is not the same as ending the billions in trade Ireland does with Israel every year.”

Maeve Higgins taking part in the protest organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign outside the Central Bank on Tuesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

The founding director of Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, established in 1998 in Aida refugee camp, Bethlehem, added: “Palestinian people do not need gestures.

“They need the killing to stop."

Mr Harris said Ireland “led the way” with Spain on the recent proposal to review Israel’s compliance with the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

He said: “We did this in line with our view that it is time for Palestine to take its full place amongst the nations of the world.

Recognition of Palestine can be part of the solution. I urge other countries to consider taking this important step.

On Ireland’s recognition of the Palestinian state, he said: “A year ago, Ireland announced, alongside Spain and Norway, we would recognise the state of Palestine.

“We did this in line with our view that it is time for Palestine to take its full place amongst the nations of the world.

“We took the decision as an expression of hope, based on our conviction that the only just and sustainable peaceful solution, for both Palestinians and Israelis, is the implementation of a two-state solution.”