To:

Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs simon.coveney@oireachtas.ie

Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for EU Affairs Thomas.Byrne@oireachtas.ie

Colm Brophy TD, Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid Colm.Brophy@oireachtas.ie

cc:

Mary Lawlor, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders defenders@ohchr.org

Prof. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism srct@ohchr.org

Prof. Michael Lynk, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 sropt@ohchr.org

Re: Designation of Palestinian civil society organisations as “terrorist” organisations

Dear Ministers Coveney, Byrne & Brophy,

I am writing as an academic in Ireland in relation to the designation last month of six Palestinian human rights and civil society organisations as “terrorist” by the Israeli Ministry of Defence under its 2016 Anti-Terrorism Law. This has now been transposed into military law in the West Bank under repressive emergency regulations dating back to British rule in Palestine. This is a dangerously draconian development, which puts the organisations and their staff in danger and threatens the existence of Palestinian civil society.

The organisations targeted (Al-Haq, Addameer, Defence for Children–International, Bisan Center for Research and Development, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees) have played an invaluable role defending human rights under the relentless pressure of a military occupation. They are now being punished for their relative success in doing so, including their engagement with the International Criminal Court and other international human rights bodies. As a group of United Nations human rights experts have made clear: “This designation is a frontal attack on the Palestinian human rights movement, and on human rights everywhere”. The organisations have received funding from Irish Aid, their staff members have studied in Ireland under Irish government scholarship programmes, and many Irish citizens have worked for them over the years. As such, this is also a frontal attack on Irish foreign policy, on Irish overseas aid, on the Irish education sector, and on the future of such exchanges and partnerships.

As you know, similar allegations and smears have been made in the past against the organisations; recent investigative reports have shown that Israel’s supposed evidence yet again ‘provides no proof for declaring Palestinian NGOs “terrorists”.’ The Irish government, the European Union and the United Nations cannot allow this persecution to stand. Expressing concern and condemnation is important, but not enough. The Irish government must make a clear statement that the designation is arbitrary and illegitimate, and will not in any way affect funding to Palestinian civil society organisations or the transfer of funds to the six Palestinian organisations by banks regulated in Ireland. The Irish government and the EU must put real and concrete pressure on the Israeli government to rescind the designation, or not to make it permanent when the 60-day temporary designation period expires. If the designation remains in place beyond December, there must be trade measures and diplomatic and economic sanctions imposed against Israel. Anything less will amount to complicity in authoritarian persecution.

I look forward to your response, with thanks in advance for your support. 

Yours sincerely,