Doherty and McDonald to introduce legislation to end the sale of Israeli war bonds
The UN warned on Tuesday that 14,000 babies could starve to death within 48 hours if aid remains blocked and the onslaught on Gaza continues
Pearse Doherty and his Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will introduce legislation which will end the sale of Israeli war bonds through the Irish Central Bank.
The UN warned on Tuesday that 14,000 babies could starve to death within 48 hours if aid remains blocked and the onslaught on Gaza continues.
Israel Bonds are investment bonds issued by Israel to raise money and are advertised with the slogans “Israel is at war” and “Stand with Israel”.
To be sold within the EU, bonds from non-EU countries must be regulated by the Central Bank of a country that is in the EU. Before Brexit, Britain provided the gateway into the EU for Israel’s financing campaign. After Brexit, the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) took over this role and last September, the CBI renewed its authorisation of Israel Bonds.
McDonald, speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday afternoon, said: “Tomorrow, Pearse Doherty and I will introduce legislation which will end the sale of Israeli war bonds through the Irish Central Bank. Children are on the brink of starvation in Gaza, more than 500 people have been slaughtered in recent days. Ireland cannot facilitate the funding of this genocide.
“Children are on the brink of starvation in Gaza as a consequence of Israel blocking humanitarian aid – blocking food, blocking water, blocking medicines. More than 500 people have been slaughtered in Gaza in recent days.
“What people might not know is that the Irish government has made Ireland complicit in funding this genocide. The Irish Central Bank has overseen the sale of Israeli war bonds. These are directly used to fund the genocide in Palestine.
Teachta Doherty, Sinn Féin's Deputy Dáil Leader and Finance Spokesperson, said in December: “It is beyond belief that the Central Bank of Ireland is currently the so-called ‘Home Country’ for Israeli war bonds. This status allows for these bonds to be sold across the EU.
“Ireland must stop facilitating Israel to sell these war bonds across the EU that are funding the ongoing genocide. Israel is openly marketing these bonds as a means of supporting their ongoing slaughter of the Palestinian people.
“The fact that the government has placed no sanctions on Israel leaves the Central Bank without any guidance from the government. But the Central Bank cannot turn a blind eye to the ruling of the International Court of Justice on issues of genocide, and should take action to end any involvement with these bonds.
“When a genocide is underway, the international community has a moral and legal imperative to act. Given that the Central Bank has not taken any action, I have begun the process of drafting legislation to end the practice and ensure Ireland no longer has any hand or part in the sale of bonds that are funding genocide.”