The real threat to a peace deal - A Palestinian right recognised

It is not surprising that Israel has criticised the Dáil decision to recognise the right of right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Suggesting that “the only way for the Palestinians to move forward is through direct negotiations with Israel”, an Israeli spokesman warned that Ireland’s recognition of the plight of Palestinian people hindered the region’s peace process. Though there are many, many shades of grey in that terrible conflict, and though there are many conflicting and exploiting interests, it is hard not to think that Israel’s continuing policy of land theft does far more damage to the peace process than any declaration in the parliament of a small and relatively powerless nation.

The latest example of violent colonisation was seen at the village of Turmusiya north of Ramallah on Wednesday when Palestinian minister Ziad Abu Ein, 55, died at a West Bank protest against new settlements. Naturally, the cause of his death is disputed but the land grab — forcefully supported by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its army— is at the root of this and thousands more deaths.