At a Plenary Session of the European Parliament, Joe Higgins MEP explains the reason why he abstained on the vote regarding Israel, Palestine and the Gaza flotilla. (17-06-10)
The translation in the video is a live, simultaneous translation of Joe’s speech. As a result, some of the speech is lost in translation. Below we publish the complete speech in written form.
"Joe Higgins (GUE/NGL) – President, I abstained on the vote on the Israeli attack on the aid flotilla to Gaza, because the resolution was not strong enough against the campaign of violence that is being carried out by the Israeli army against the people of Palestine in Gaza and in the West Bank.
The murder of nine human rights activists has disgusted people around the world. It was piracy on international waters. It can not be accepted that Israel refuses to accept an independent investigation; the government of the United states – under Barack Obama – must also be condemned because they did not criticise the attack. There can be no faith in the United Nations to respond to the problems of the Middle East.
We saw international rallies against the attack around the world. It is important to say that a strong demonstration took place with both Palestinians and Israelis in Tel Aviv. And in fact it is through big movements of the working class and poor in Palestine – and in Israel as well – which will find answers to the questions in the Middle East and establish a democratic socialist society in the Middle East as a whole."
"Joe Higgins (GUE/NGL). – A Uachtaráin, do staon mé ar an vóta maidir le hionsaí stát Iosrael ar an gcabhlach cabhrach go Gaza, mar nach bhfuil an rún láidir go leor in aghaidh an fheachtais foréigin atá ar siúl ag arm Iosrael ar mhuintir na Palaistíne i nGaza agus ar an mBruach Thiar.
Chuir dúnmharú naonúr gníomhairí cearta daonna déistean ar dhaoine ar fud an domhain. Píoráideacht ar fharraigí idirnáisiúnta a bhí ann. Ní féidir glacadh le diúltú Iosrael d’fhiosrúchán neamhspleách; caithfear cáineadh a dhéanamh chomh maith ar rialtas Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá – faoin uachtarán Obama – de bhrí nár dheineadar cáineadh ar an ár. Ní féidir aon mhuinín a chur ins na Náisiúin Aontaithe chun freagairt d’fhadhbanna an Mheán-Oirthir.
Chonaiceamar léirsithe idirnáisiúnta in aghaidh an ionsaí ar fud an domhain. Tá sé tábhachtach a rá go raibh mórshiúl láidir in Tel Aviv, a raibh idir Phalaistínigh agus Iosraelaigh ann. Agus i ndáiríre is trí ghluaiseachtaí ollmhóra de chuid an lucht oibre agus dhaoine bochta sa Phalaistín – agus in Iosrael chomh maith – a fhéadfar freagra a fháil ar cheist an Mheán-Oirthir agus sochaí nua dhaonlathach shóisialach a chur ar bun sa Mheán-Oirthear trí chéile."
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