A motion passed by the Dáil last night (26 May) has been hailed as a landmark decision by Palestinian groups, but has been condemned by the Israeli foreign ministry.

The Sinn Féin motion, passed unanimously, recognises Israel's illegal settlements as a de facto annexation of Palestinian land.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney (pictured) had earlier said that Ireland would be the first EU state to say this, and was not doing so lightly.

“The scale, pace and strategic nature of Israel’s actions on settlement expansion and the intent behind it have brought us to a point where we need to be honest about what is actually happening on the ground … It is de facto annexation,” he said.

Expulsion call rejected 

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the motion must mark a “new, assertive, consistent confrontation of Israeli crimes against Palestine”.

The unanimous vote came after a Government amendment condemning Hamas for its rocket attacks on Israel was accepted.

In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the motion distanced Ireland from its ambition to contribute and play a constructive role in the Israeli-Palestinian context.

But Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland, told The Times that the motion was “great support” for Palestinians.

An amendment attached to the motion, which called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, was rejected by the Dáil.