The failure of our government and others to act to rein in the belligerent Israeli military regime is evident in the comments form Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore who this week could only manage to express “some concerns around aspects of the activists’ detention”. This lack of political resolve has meant that extraordinary members of civil society risk their lives as they try to breach Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza – a grotesque act of collective punishment targeting 1.6 million people with no means to defend themselves and no recourse to the protection of international law that we all take for granted.
Emboldened by the impunity bestowed on it by the USA, Britain and Germany, Israel commits acts described as war crimes and possible crimes against humanity by the UN Human Rights Council in full public view. In the belief that its actions will have no political, military or financial consequences, the delinquent brat of the Middle East is contemptuous of the rights of Irish citizens who challenge its hegemony.
Israel’s smug disregard for the human rights of Irish citizens is a mistake. Irish people were to the fore in standing against the apartheid regime in South Africa and an Irish-lead campaign to expose the global trade in diamonds from Israel that generate over $1 billion p.a. in funding for the Israeli military is gaining momentum internationally.
This week a letter signed by over 2000 people was sent to the Retail Jewellers of Ireland and other international jewellers’ organisations asking them to end the trade in Israeli diamonds that fund war crimes and crimes against humanity. Consumers have a powerful role to play in influencing Israel’s behaviour.
Zoe and Fintan interviewed at Dublin airport yesterday following their release form Israeli prison after being kidnapped in international waters en route to Gaza.
