EU must act on apartheid in West Bank, says Andrews

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews has said that the European Union “must act” on what he describes as a “brutal system of apartheid” in the West Bank.

Speaking on a visit to the occupied West Bank, the Fianna Fáil MEP said, “witnessing the reality on the ground, it is clear there is a brutal system of apartheid in the West Bank. The EU must recognise this fact and confront the Israeli government with trade sanctions.”

“Smaller than County Galway, the West Bank has over 900 military checkpoints and barriers. It is hard to imagine how every aspect of Palestinian life is utterly restricted living under occupation,” Andrews noted.

Amongst the population of 3.4 million Palestinians, the Israeli army protects what Andrews calls “600,000 illegal settlers who have stolen land from the local people.”

“The Israeli government has just approved a $270 million budget to build roads connecting the illegal settlements. It is clear they intend permanent occupation,” he stated.

The Fianna Fáil MEP remarked, “while the settlers live under Israeli civil law, Palestinians live under military law with far less rights. There are less property rights for Palestinians, even separate roads, and no right to vote in Israeli elections.”

“This system of apartheid existed long before October 2023, but since then has become a lot worse – with a huge increase in land grabs, arbitrary arrests and killing of civilians,” he said.

“Seeing the apartheid in person is truly shocking; the EU must act,” he said.