Lanigan was noted as a supporter of an independent Palestinian state. Lanigan founded the Friends of Palestine in the Oireachtas. In December 2003 he was awarded the Order of Bethlehem by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. The Order, which is the highest honour bestowed on behalf of the Palestinian people, was made at a ceremony in Ramallah in which Arafat commended Lanigan for having supported the Palestinian cause "when it was not popular to do so".
