Ireland fails to condemn Palestinians, says Netanyahu

[ucrdem]

Source: Irish Times

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused the Government of failing to condemn Palestinians for incitement and for glorifying those who commit terrorist attacks. The criticism came during a meeting on Tuesday in Jerusalem with the newly-appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.

During a frank exchange of views, Mr Netanyahu also asked Mr Coveney why Ireland backs organisations that call for the destruction of Israel. Ireland – alongside Sweden – has for many years been the subject of frequent complaints by the Israeli government, who consider both governments to be amongst the strongest critics of Israel in the European Union.

(snip)

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Coveney declined to respond directly to Mr Netanyahu’s allegations, merely describing the talks as “frank and constructive”. “Of course, we have clear differences on some issues, but these differences are honestly held and openly expressed.

“Our discussions touched on a range of issues, including settlements, the humanitarian and political situation in Gaza and, more broadly, the prospects for the resumption of meaningful negotiations in the Middle East peace process."

Read more: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-fails-to-condemn-palestinians-says-netanyahu-1.3151846

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Minister Simon Coveney with the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Jerusalem where they met Tuesday.

[MosheFeingold]

1. Ireland has always been tacitly antisemitic

They remained more-or-less neutral during WWII and refused to allow immigration of Jews fleeing the Shoa on the ground (and I quote) Irish Parliament member TD Oliver J. Flanagan that it was best to assist Germany in "routing the Jews out of the country." The primary reason they did not outright ally themselves with the Nazis was the ease at which England could have invaded.

They did provide minor help towards the end of the war (providing weather reports and such), but were generally viewed as just waiting to see who would win.

[ucrdem]

7. Some were. But Eamon De Valera's 1936 Constitution guarantees Jewish freedom of worship in Ireland.

And De Valera, who was head of government from 1932 to 1948, blocked efforts to keep Jewish orphans out of Ireland. In 1966, "the Dublin Jewish community arranged the planting and dedication of the Éamon de Valera Forest in Israel, near Nazareth, in recognition of his consistent support for Ireland's Jews."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Éamon_de_Valera

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ireland_(original_text)


Éamon De Valera

[OnDoutside]

8. Nice going back 80 years to get a cool story. As someone who actually lives in Ireland, the

overwhelmingly vast majority of Irish people would be pro an ending to the plight of the Palestinian people, rather than being specifically anti Israeli and certainly not anti Semitic. It does suit the agenda to paint people, who would like relief to the plight of the Palestinian people, as anti Semitic, "you're either with us, or against us". Ireland's defence forces have a proud tradition of Peacekeeping under the flag of the United Nations, and have witnessed what has gone on in the area, for many decades.

As for your nonsense "just waiting to see who would win", you're ignoring fairly central facts.

The Irish Free State had only come through the War of Independence, followed by a bitter Civil War, only 17 years earlier, while Britain had only returned a number of Treaty Ports back to Irish control in 1938. Ireland was not in a position to defend itself from Germans or Britain, and in the case of the British, it would have meant British troops re-entering the Irish Free State. This was something that could have re-ignited the civil war, and would have caused untold damage. It was too raw.

Instead Ireland provided help where they could, including allowing the discrete re-patriation of British military personnel, who came ashore or crash landed in Ireland, while the Germans were interned for the rest of the war.

You're also neglecting to mention the tens of thousands of Irish who joined the British & American armies to fight in WW2.

[MosheFeingold]

9. It's not history to me; it's my life.

As my family and I were denied entry to Ireland and ended up in the USA.

Which turned out well: I grew up a bit more and served in the US Army in WWII in the European theater as an MP in charge of German prisons (because I could speak German).

Yes, I am in my 90s.

And Europe has not changed, much at all. Nor the US.

We're entering a phase similar to the 1930s where the antisemitic pricks will come from the Left.

[OnDoutside]

11. I'm happy for you that you found refuge in the US,

the refugees should never have been rejected (iirc there have been government papers released in recent years showing it was down to specific anti Semitic civil servants who were blocking entry).

While somewhere like Limerick had a less than welcoming attitude towards Jewish people, my own city of Cork was much more accommodating, and the area around Albert Road was affectionately known as "Jewtown". One of our best loved Lord Mayors was Gerald Goldberg, while the Briscoes in Dublin served many years in our Parliament. In fact, a recent minister of justice was Alan Shatter.

Congratulations on your service too, that was incredibly brave. I'm sure you have a font of memories, which i hope you pass on to younger generations.

As I said earlier, there's an easy fallback by those who want to pigeon hole, to say that if you express support for the plight of the Palestinian people, you are anti Semitic, and that's not the case. We, in Ireland would wish for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, and as the Palestinian people are particularly doing badly, there's a natural inclination to side with the underdog, especially considering our own history.

As regards the wider European issue, it has been the failure of centrism, along with the 2008 crash has opened up possibilities to far right and far left nutjobs. Macron is a line in the sand, if he fails, your fears could be realized.

[DK504]

2. Good for the Coveney.

Netan-yahoo browbeats foreign leaders to tow his party line. He can not tolerate and dissent from any one. If they have a difffering opinion and refuse prostrate themselves before him and Israel supports terrorism.

Maybe Baby Neten-yahoo should have realized who was talking with, an Irish governemnt official. It took hundreds of years for the Irish to liberate themselves from England, the abuse the Irish went through to have a free country is well documented. As it is Northern Ireland is still occupied by the English. The Irish had their lands confiscated, stolen and they were thrown out of their own country. That's how my family got here. Land stolen and thrown on a boat to America.

Baby needs to STFU, he is a tyrant.

[Leith]

6. Irish History Should Give Netanyahu His Clue

Most of the last 1,000 years of Irish history is the story of a more powerful nearby country invading, taking land, and throwing the inhabitants out their homes to die. The US is full of people who descended from lucky refugees. It looks like the Irish don't want to wish that on the Palestineans in that situation now.

[MosheFeingold]

10. Except Ireland is actually a country

If you recall, both a Jewish and Arab nation were carved out of what-was-a-backwater of the failing/failed Ottoman Empire after WWI -- Israel being then overwhelmingly Jewish and the Arab area overwhelmingly Arab, with a few mixed areas (e.g., East Jerusalem, although the repeated pogroms and ethnic cleansing had pretty much cleared of Jewish people).

It was an imperfect map, but conceptually sound. Land trades could have easily figured out who went where.

The only reason we have a newly-created people of "Palestinians" is certain Arabs were racists and xenophobic and refused to let Jews form a separate, non-Arab-dominated, out of this failed Ottoman Empire. Jews must be kept down, you know.

So the Arabs attacked, including with the help of Nazi Waffen SS Troops. And lost. Repeatedly.

But, go on, spread lies about Israel.

And then wonder why the reliably-Democratic voting block of Jewish people is gradually turning Republican.

[Leith]

12. Thanks for Letting Me Know about Israel

Actually, most of my post was about Ireland. According to family stories, my great grandfather dragged the bodies of his parents from a field to bury them himself on the fringes of a grove of trees. His son, my grandfather, was the only one of 6 children to live past the age of 30. There was plenty of food, but the new landowners insisted that it be exported and shot dead anyone who tried to eat some of it.

I didn't say much of anything about Israel, just Irish opinion. Could you tell me what lies I told?

And wow! I had no idea that millions of people were hanging on my every word about the Israel/Arab situation. I apologize for keeping everyone waiting so long. And I'm especially sorry that I fucked it all up so horrendously badly when I did. As soon as this post is done, I will run a hot bath and get the razor blades ready. Please let Jewish Americans know that they don't have to leave the Democratic Party because I'm such a stupid, vicious, ugly, fat, old, racist, loudmouth asshole.

Still, I will be happy in knowing that not a single Arab inhabitant of the area labeled "Palestina" on all maps I could find from about 1900 to WW II was ever inconvenienced in any way.

[MosheFeingold]

13. Drama notwithstanding

"Palestine" during the time in which you refer referred to the Jewish portion of the Ottoman Empire and the Jewish residents. It's flag was the Star of David. And was unquestionably Jewish.

But please continue. It's almost as overwrought as "Ulysses" but less informed.

[Leith]

14. Just Quit It

You accused one particular country, one that was not even in any position to participate in WW II, of antisemitism. You accused Ireland of being Nazi sympathizers. Then you accused Europe and the US of still being as antisemitic as they were in the 1930s and 40s. Then you said that the Left was becoming antisemitic (and pricks).

When I said that Ireland sympathized with Palestineans for their situation (and that is ALL I said), you accused me of spreading lies about Israel and turning American Jews to vote Republican.

Here's the punchline: You think that _I_ am the dramatic one.

Try dialing it back to 11 long enough to check out population demographics of the area starting in 1517. If you don't agree with their numbers, please take it up with them. When you are done with that, make sure posters have actually insulted or told lies about Israel before attacking them. Better yet, try countering a post with more tact and less outrage.

[Steviehh]

3. OK, Ireland didn't do much in WWII for Jews....

Neither did US, Britain, etc. Coverney is not buying Zioinist's propaganda. Tough luck, Bibi.

[EX500rider]

4. Sure if you don't count the whole beating Germany & liberating the camps thing..

[appal_jack]

5. Details, details!

The whole blame-America-first-and-foremost crowd overlaps with the destroy-Israel crowd quite a bit.

Neither of these perspectives deserve much quarter on a Democratic site, imho.



-app

[BannonsLiver]

15. Does anyone else find Bibi's constant, endless bleating tedious?