Greens outraged at Israeli attitude towards cluster bombs
Gormley calls for Irish ban and withdrawal of public investment in weapons manufacturers
Statement by John Gormley TD, Green Party Chairman and Foreign Affairs spokesperson:
“The Israeli government’s use of vast numbers of cluster bombs and munitions in Lebanon is deeply disturbing and ought to be condemned by the Irish Government. The claims that Israel was acting legitimately to protect its citizens is indefensible. Israel’s armed forces deployed cluster munitions extensively across civilian areas of South Lebanon in the dying hours of the conflict, a decision that was cynical, disproportionate and showed no regard for human life. The unexploded bomblets, which the UN has estimated to number 100,000, can lie undiscovered for years before exploding when accidentally disturbed. Children are particularly prone to injury.
“I call on the Irish government to condemn the Israeli actions and to support an international treaty banning the use of cluster bombs and to introduce a ban on the transportation, export and trade of cluster munitions though Ireland. Such a ban already exists in Belgium.
“In light of Israel’s shocking use of cluster munitions in Lebanon, I also call on the Government and opposition parties to support the Green Party’s attempts to oblige the National Pensions Reserve Fund to adopt an ethical investment policy. The Fund, which received €1.3bn in tax receipts last year, holds investments of nearly €1.3m in the two principle manufacturers of cluster bombs in the world – US firms Textron and Alliant Techsystems – according to the Fund’s Annual Report for 2005. It is entirely unethical and reprehensible that public money is used to profit from the spoils of war and the misfortune of its victims.”