Sir, – We are among the members of a diverse group of 23 non-partisan individuals who have just returned from a visit to the West Bank. Prior to our visit we had seen the terrible scenes of the bombing of Gaza on our television screens but nothing prepared us for the shocking reality of the daily lives of Palestinians in the West Bank.
During the trip we met with many groups and individuals from Palestinian and Israeli civil society. We were struck by the incessant restriction of movement of Palestinians – numerous stories of men and women unable to pass freely between Bethlehem and Jerusalem (about 10km apart) because they could not obtain a permit to enter Jerusalem. On one occasion, our guide, who was Christian, had to vacate our bus at a checkpoint simply because he was Palestinian when our route brought us through an Israeli settlement.
Many people told us about the refusal to grant building permits to Palestinians, the systematic demolition of houses and the non-recognition of their right to live in their own property, despite proof of legal title.
Reports of widespread discriminatory arrests and detention of Palestinian children were well documented – in some cases children were held in solitary confinement for up to 29 days.
In our meeting with the Irish representative to the Palestinian Authority, we were informed of the ongoing financial assistance provided by Ireland to the people of the West Bank and Gaza. However, we are dismayed by Ireland’s apparent failure to take a principled position in relation to the occupation of Palestine and the daily violation of human rights in the West Bank.
Many of the people we met emphasised the urgency of a resolution to this situation. Time is running out, and the daily situation of Palestinians in the West Bank is deteriorating with the escalating consolidation of Israeli settlements. It is our hope that Ireland will play a significant role in the international community, speaking out against the unlawful actions and human rights abuses which we witnessed so frequently during our visit. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK DONOHOE,
Charleston Road,
Ranelagh,Dublin 6;
LIZ EVERS,
Prospect Road,
Dublin 9.