Israel Must Change Course
Israel needs to respect international law and human rights, stop attacking her neighbours, treat Palestinians as the equals they are, and define her borders, clearly and definitively
Israel is still committing a genocide in Gaza
While there is much more aid flowing into Gaza than before the “ceasefire”, it isn’t enough. The conditions are terrible there and aid and aid workers must be allowed in to make things truly liveable again. The borders into Gaza must be opened sufficiently to let humanitarian aid freely flow in. To fail to do so is to deny life to the people in Gaza. And international reporters must be allowed in also.
What ceasefire? As of April 16, 2026 more than 700 Palestinians and 4 Israelis have been killed in Gaza since October 10, 2025.
There is currently a 1 State Solution in effect
That 1 state is grossly inhumane and undemocratic to millions of people living there. Israel has control of all the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel has razed entire towns in Gaza, and evicted people from their homes and destroyed farms throughout the West Bank. They have cut off or reduced water supplies and other essential services in both areas at different times. Israel also controls who can enter and leave Gaza and the West Bank.
There is a system of Apartheid in operation in the West Bank
People who lived through South Africa’s Apartheid era and visited the region, say it’s much worse than the inhumane and inexcusable South African system. No country or bloc should trade with Israel while Palestinians in the areas controlled by Israel are being treated as less than equals, less than human. The EU must suspend the trade association with Israel. And this country, Ireland, must enact The Occupied Territories Bill immediately. It is shameful that successive governments have dragged their feet on this. The bill passed both houses by early 2019! If it had been enacted then who knows what difference it might have made…
I support a 2 State Solution because I see it as being more achievable – but what do I know? And what right have I to set out a future for these peoples? Absolutely none. Palestinians and Israelis must be brought to the negotiating table – and regardless of the long term solution that is forged, both sides must commit to treating the other as equals. And as Israel has all the power, I mean by this that Israel must immediately cease it gross violations of human rights against Palestinians. This needs to happen straightaway. And every country which doesn’t cease trade and/or apply sanctions until human rights are being respected, is essentially complicit in Israel’s crimes.
Israel must disavow the Greater Israel project
Israel must disavow the Greater Israel project which seeks to expand Israel’s borders based on historical and biblical claims. Where those borders lie is not clearly defined. Netanyahu has expressed a connection to the idea of Greater Israel but he sees the borders of Israel running from the river to the sea. Bezalel Smotrich has indicated that he thinks the borders of Greater Israel would extend into Lebanon, Syria and across Jordan. Daniella Weiss, a prominent activist in the Settler movement, envisions Greater Israel as extending from the shores of the Nile to the banks of the Euphrates. The attacks on Syria and Lebanon, in particular, when viewed from this context, may be seen as preparation for annexations rather than being about defence.
Anyone who claims to support Israel and isn’t calling out their illegal actions and gross violations of human rights, does not give a highland damn about Israelis
Israel has been in a state of constant war for 938 days.
In that time it has failed to achieve a decisive victory anywhere and the tactics used have led to Israel incurring near universal condemnation and opprobrium. Its army is exhausted. During this time, beyond the attacks in Gaza and the West Bank, it has struck Qatar, Syria, Lebanon and Iran. Whether you think these attacks were justified or not, you must see how they have added to Israel’s insecurity.
None of these attacks have been decisive in any long-term sense. And Israel will not be able to continue its campaigns without the massive support (approximately $3.8 billion annually) it receives from the United States. Polling earlier this year showed a 15% drop in US voter support, down to 32%, for Israel since 2023. Even if you ignore the destruction and human suffering involved, this constant war footing is wrong because it simply isn’t sustainable. And what kind of reckoning will there be when it does end?
If Israel changes course, ends the destruction and commits to peace with her neighbours, then the reckoning will be a matter of serious self reflection and progression – and ultimately it will be joyous. If not, I really do shudder to think what the future holds.
It is not enough to call out Netanyahu.
This situation did not start with Benjamin Netanyahu and it’s not likely to end with him either. Unfortunately, Netanyahu has made the situation decidedly worse for Palestinians and Israelis. In his determination to stay in power and avoid any legal scrutiny of his actions, he has enabled the rise to power of politicians who are far more dangerous and extremist than he is.
For example, Netanyahu has welcomed into government and given key ministries to Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, men who for years were considered pariahs, or at the very least fringe extremists, by mainstream media within Israel. Ben-Gvir believes the man who assassinated Yitzhak Rabin is a hero and has long campaigned for his release. Smotrich is prominent within the Settler movement.
Amichai Eliyahu, Minister for Heritage and a member of Ben-Gvir’s party, is the man who called for a nuclear bomb to be used on Gaza in November 2023. Did he understand that, because of the immense power of modern nuclear bombs and the proximity of Gaza to Israeli population centres, this was basically like calling for a nuclear attack on Israel? I don’t think so. These guys are crazy and stupid. Netanyahu did suspend Eliyahu for a significant period but never stripped him of the ministry. Presumably because he needs to keep Ben-Gvir on side to stay in power.
Benjamin Netanyahu is awful. But realise that many within his own government are far far worse for both Palestinians and Israelis. I just gave a few examples. There are so many, unfortunately.
If you support Israelis, if you support Israel having a future, call out everyone in power there who does not respect law or life.
Israel is committing these atrocities, but our world acquiesces in, and in some cases fully supports, their commission
Why is Gaza an open air prison? Israel would not have been able to bring this situation about alone. Egypt had to agree to it. Why is it that none of the humanitarian aid flotillas, which are sailing through international waters, not Israelis waters, can make it to Gaza? Why is our world allowing this happen?
The International Association of Genocide Scholars passed a resolution last August stating that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of the crime of genocide. Some people will point out that only 28% of the IAGS voted on that resolution. But it’s worth knowing that usually only 25 – 34% of the IAGS vote on their resolutions – so 28% is a very normal amount of voters for this association – and 86% of those who voted, voted in favour of the resolution.
So, experts agree that Israel’s actions in Gaza qualify as genocidal. So, I guess that means no weapons have been sold to Israel in light of this, right? Many countries have suspended or imposed restrictions on the sale of weapons to Israel. Spain blocked all exports of new weapons from October 2023. However, these restrictions have had little effect, as America has continued to arm and fund Israel throughout the Biden and Trump presidencies. Yes, things were and are much worse under Trump, but 938 days of war, and the genocide in Gaza, and further terrible atrocities in the West Bank, could not have occurred without the full support of the Biden administration.
Why does our world support these atrocities?
Also, you have to question why it still appears to be “business as usual” between Israel and other countries. Only one country has fully suspended trade with Israel. In May 2024, Türkiye suspended all imports and exports with Israel, stating this would remain in place until a permanent ceasefire is established and humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza without interruption. All countries should adopt this position. It’s not penalising Israel, it will help Israel course correct.
Why are countries failing to disengage with Israel when it is so obviously violating international law and human rights? To begin with, I did think it was out of guilt for what happened during the Holocaust – many Israelis are children or grandchildren of survivors of the Holocaust. Some are survivors themselves. It is understandable that a desperate need to feel secure has led to an offensive form of defensiveness. Understandable – but not right. And it couldn’t have happened with our world allowing this happen. The truly awful thing is that other countries have allowed Israel flout international laws and commit atrocities, again and again, not out of guilt or loyalty, but out of self interest.
True allies won’t enable you to do what is wrong – that is just going to create a cycle of horror for you and whoever you are wronging.
And unfortunately we have an obvious lesson of this, in this country, Ireland.
The Occupied Territories Bill
In 2018, Senator Francis Black introduced the OTB which was designed to ban the import and sale of goods and services originating in illegal settlements, primarily targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. In late 2018, it passed in the Seanad, and in early 2019 it passed in the Dáil. So it should have been enacted. However, the Fine Gael government of the day, led by Leo Varadkar, used a legislative technicality to halt its enactment. In Ireland, when a bill involves the use of public money it cannot proceed without a “money message” recommendation by the government. Since then various Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil coalitions have failed to enact the OTB and have tried to water it down by removing services from the act.
Is this because they are worried about the effect it might have on Israel? It seems pretty obvious that the concern is for the Irish economy. Which is pretty disgusting.
What difference would it have made? Maybe none. Or maybe, just maybe, it could have made a huge difference. Maybe it would have caused other European countries to question why they were trading with illegal settlements. Maybe Palestinians wouldn’t have felt so disregarded by the world – maybe they would have felt that diplomatic pressure and economic consequences could have more tangible and long-term effects. Sadly, we will never know. Because instead of choosing to stand up for international law and human rights, successive Irish governments have instead chosen short-term economic benefits. Against the will of the overwhelming majority of Irish people.
Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement
Trade between the EU and Israel is governed by the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Article 2 stipulates that relations, and all provisions of the agreement itself, are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, and that these form the foundations of the association. It acts as a legal clause allowing for potential suspension if these principles are violated. The agreement dates from 2000 and gives Israel preferential access to EU markets.
The EU failure to suspend the agreement makes a mockery of the bloc’s stated commitment to human rights and democratic principles. As an EU citizen, I am deeply troubled by the EU’s failure to give human rights a higher priority than economic concerns. I really do worry now about how guaranteed are the many wonderful benefits there are for EU citizens. Will I be stripped of my rights and freedoms if it is more economically convenient to do so? If EU bureaucrats and politicians think such fears are silly, please explain to me why then have you totally disregarded the rights and liberties of Palestinian people? And why do you not believe that there is a better path for Israel? How could you possibly believe that being in a state of constant war is what is best for Israelis? Why not support and push for Israel to change course?
On January 13, 2026 a Citizens Initiative began collecting signatures. It asked for the EU-Israel Association Agreement to be fully suspended because of Israel’s violations of human rights. The EU Commission must consider any Citizens Initiative that collects over 1,000,000 signatures sourced from 7 or more EU member states, within 1 year. Within four months the Citizens Initiative had reached the requirements. It’s still accepting signatures.
If you’re an EU citizen and you care about human rights – everybody’s human rights – then please sign the initiative. Let’s show them that the overwhelming majority of EU citizens demand that everyone’s human rights be respected.
Israel, no matter what our politicians do, know that most people want a much brighter future for you and your neighbours than your current trajectory allows for. Change course – before it’s too late.