Oireachtas Cttee condemns Mideast bloodshed
Wednesday, 2 August 2006 22:33
The Oireachtas Committee for Foreign Affairs has agreed a motion condemning the bloodshed in the Middle East and calling for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian relief for those affected.
Sustained criticism of Israeli actions was heard at this morning's special session of the committee held to discuss the crisis in the Middle East.
TDs and Senators were at one in their condemnation of the loss of life, blaming Israel for disproportionate reaction to Hezbollah rockets and suggesting the bombing of a UN observation post at Khiam and the deaths of four soldiers was no accident.
Committee chairman Michael Woods said it was not acceptable for Israel to order Lebanese citizens to leave their homes and then bomb the roads leading from their villages.
He also said the committee was sending a strong message of support to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, for the stance he was taking on the issue.
Labour's Michael D Higgins said the recent communiqué of EU Ministers in Luxembourg was deeply disappointing.
He said Israel's response to provocation was in breach of international law, while the EU had kicked the issue of an immediate ceasefire into touch.
- Morning Ireland: Dr Ray Murphy, Director of the LLM Programme in International Peace Support Operations at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway, analyses the military situation
- Morning Ireland: Richard Downes decribes the scene from Qana where victims of the Israeli bombardment where buried yesterday
- Morning Ireland: Richard Crowely assesses the situation from Tyre in southern Lebanon where Israeli troops are fighting against Hezbollah guerrillas on several fronts
- Nine News: Richard Downes reports on the Lebanese civilians fleeing the Israeli offensive in Lebanon
- Six One News: Richard Downes reports from the Lebanese port city of Tyre where he has seen a high level of fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah guerrillas
- Six One News: Richard Downes talks to the Dakik family from Clonee, Co Meath, who were on holidays in the Middle East when the hostilities began and are now on their way home
- Six One News: Mary Calpin reports on the latest fighting between Israel and Hezbollah which saw Israeli troops pusher deeper into Lebanon and Hezbollah rocket attacks striking further into Israel
- One News: Mary Calpin reports that more Hezbollah missiles have been landing on cities and towns in northern Israel
