Until recently, I was convinced that the tiny pro-Israel lobby in my native Ireland was of little significance. When the first Gaza Freedom Flotilla was attacked last year, the best that lobby could do was wheel out two guys named Tom. Both Tom Carew and Tom Cooney competed with each other on the TV3 channel to see who could make the most absurd argument in support of Israel’s murder of nine peace activists onboard the Mavi Marmara.
On a quick visit to Dublin last week, I was surprised to hear that one of this wacky duo is now working for the national government. In April, Cooney was named an advisor to Alan Shatter, the Irish minister for justice and defense. A statement announcing the appointment indicated that Cooney, a law lecturer in University College Dublin, was something of an iconoclast, alluding to his track record of championing civil liberties at home and the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
There was no mention of his views on Israel, a curious omission given that his new boss Shatter is a committed Zionist. Whereas the Irish government was generally more balanced in commenting about the Freedom Flotilla II than many of its EU counterparts over the past few months, Shatter was openly hostile to the effort, declaring it was “something of a mystery” to him why anyone could feel the need for a “political protest” against the Gaza blockade. Worryingly, Shatter has been put in charge of the department of defense by Ireland’s relatively new prime minister Enda Kenny; that department has awarded contracts to Israeli weapons firms in the not-so-distant past.
My trip also coincided with a protracted debate about who should be Ireland’s next president. Even though the role of the president in Ireland is largely ceremonial and the holder of that office has no executive power, elections for the position can be vicious affairs.
According to opinion polls, the front-runner in the race (the election is still several months away) was David Norris, a scholar of James Joyce who undertook an eventually successful legal challenge against Ireland’s ban on homosexual relations in the 1980s. This week, however, Norris withdrew from the contest after it emerged he had written a letter to an Israeli court in 1997 urging that it be lenient in sentencing his former partner Ezra Nawi, who was convicted of statutory rape of a 15 year old Palestinian.
Don’t get me wrong. I am horrified by the very idea of an adult having sex with a child. Unquestionably, Norris showed poor judgment in making his appeal, particularly by writing it on official headed paper supplied by the Irish Senate, of which he is a long-standing member.
Nonetheless, there is no evidence than Norris did anything more sinister than seek mercy for somebody he loved.
It is telling that it was not child protection advocates that drew attention to Norris’ relationship with Nawi. Rather, it was Zionist blogger John Connolly, an Irish law graduate living in London.
Connolly stated that his “main problem with Norris in recent times has been his outspoken criticism of Israel”. Among the alleged misdemeanors he cited were that Norris had invited Ilan Pappé, the dissident Israeli historian, to address his colleagues in the Oireachtas, Ireland’s parliament.
Connolly’s blog post inspired journalists with the reactionary Irish Independent to delight in Norris’ difficulties. Kevin Myers, one of Ireland’s best-paid columnists, inferred that Norris wouldn’t dream of writing to Arab governments demanding that they treat gay men or lesbians fairly. This was a patently ludicrous claim as Norris has been a consistent champion of human rights throughout the world.
Despite being few in number, Irish Zionists appear to be growing in clout to such a degree they can determine who may and may not stand in elections. The conclusion that they have no qualms about undermining democracy seems inescapable.
David Cronin
Electronic Intifada
Revelation 2:9 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”
GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY YOU WRETCHED PARASITES
Look, it is pointless, that you two are at each other’s throat…
Israel and it’s regime need putting down like Dog’s, that have bitten people.
Since the founding of that god forsaken country, they have murdered civilian population left right and center….
They are worse than the Nazi movement, and worse than the Taliban.
Every UN resulution against Israel was IGNORED…
Where are the US warplanes bombing these criminals to justice???
You are all puppets of the Jews…..
Who in his right mind, has given Israel Nuklear Weapons ???
And finally Hasan, WHY NOT QUOTE FROM THE QURAN ???
Best regards
Muhammad
Shatter needs to be given the boot, Zionists are not welcome in Ireland !
I am amazed at these comments < Hassan says get out of my country
and which country would that be ? Ireland your as Irish as the black and tans,
After the discraceful behaviour of the priest hood , anyone supporting sodomy has no right in any public office in Ireland
Robert…Im Irish…Its just a username you clown…Hasan has personal meaning to me…You immediately made an assumption about my etnicity and religion from my user name…
Good man Paddy they thought you well…Keep up justifying those negative Irish stereotypes…I was born and bred here…Im from the South of Ireland..Dont be so trigger happy next time…I support none of what you said…David Norris would have been an atrocious choice…
hassan , now thats interesting ,I come from Dublin and have no
love for any one in particular , but who do you want out of your
country , the past imigrants seem to be extreemly advantageous to all the countries they live in , , of course
the new immigration into Ireland also has its advantges , as said by many where there is a dark cloud there is a silver lining ,unfortunately this particular jacket has no lining
its thread bare with nothing to offer ,the word parasites would suit
that group
one last thing the computer which you are using probably has an intel chip designed by those you wish to throw out,no chip no laptop
Look Robert youre taking this thread way off course…Im not debating about immigrants in Ireland or immigrants coming to Ireland..My argument is I dont want a rogue state dictating policies to any of our politicians etc…Israel is the country I want out of our affairs and out of our country..They are really committing some harsh crimes at the moment and has been for quiet a while..Heavy military force against a people who practically are without an army or airforce.Weapons supplied by the U.S…Id lose intel chips any day for a bit of humanity…Im not Anti-Semitc…My eyes are open..I saw what happened in past to those poor people…Orthodox Jews even condemn Israel too…Its not their religion I have a problem its them acts they commit…
Thats is all..
The plight of Gaza is certainly sad for all the innocent
cevilians that live there but if you wish to open your eyes
then open them all the way , the Israelis left gaza in the
hands of the palastinians , instead of taking advantage andprooving that they could run a viable state the violnce
began , 6000 missiles crashed into southern suberbs and the
incursion was on the cards, Hamas was democraticlly voted in,
yes the people of Gaza are in a terrible situation but the
solution is also in there hands,
You want Israelis out of Ireland but I suggest that ,Ireland is a richer nation with Israel and if the letter was leaked by
the Israelis they did Ireland a favour , hopefully Gaza will find peace and the innocent people there will have better lives
The Israelis left Gaza in the hands of the Palestinians? So they’re making the siege up then Robert or is there some way that you can run a state without proper imports/exports infrastructure, medical facilities 30% of agricultural land unusable as it is a ‘buffer zone’ etc..?
And lets be clear about the violence, Hamas had observed a ceasefire for several months, that was violated by Israel, before the incursion started.
And what favor did Israel do for Ireland? Was it the one where they sabotaged the Irish flagged flotilla vessels or the one with the passports being used for extra judicial killings?
Tom you are obviously well informed but have taken sides without checking the facts on the ground, before Hamas was voted in the siege was not in anybodys mind , the world expected the palastinians to pick up the gauntlet and start a civilised state , that is why the future was in there hands, unfortunately the world was dealt a blow
and the opposite happened ,
The flotilla , I had friends who were on the boats and except for where the turks were , all was peacful , I draw my own conclusions, and have no sympathy for people
who use violence instead od dialogue
Gaza will be free when the people of gaza decide that
peace with israel is worthwhile , at the moment the
innocent Gazans are being held hostage . I unlike you always look at both sides
I am sure given the chance , Gazans would put the clock back and start again , I am totally against the seige
but whats next,
Israel sabotaged the ships , no Turkey and greece have had enough of being manipulated and stopped the flotilla
Israe did nothing for Ireland except making sure that a
supporter of a pedophile wont be elected
Well, I could take up issue with the flotilla but that’s a whole different debate, I myself have many friends that were on the Mavi Mamara and Israel were not exactly provoked into violence. The arguments for intercepting the civilian flotilla with a military force boarding it are laughable and the outcome tragic.
I am stunned by the fact you think the lack of peace is due to the Gazans. Really, just look at who breaks the ceasefires who is occupying who. This election is a joke anyway, I can’t find another historical example of an occupied people having an election forced upon them.
Hamas were not always in power, what were the problems before then? Rockets? What a joke, more Israelis have died from peanut allergies than from rockets in this time. And to use that as a justification to kill 1400 mostly civilians was preposterous especially seeing as Hamas were observing a ceasefire at the time.
I have not taken ‘sides’ as you have said. I support Israelis and Palestinians alike, they are both as human as one and other are they not? Personally I am warmed by the co-operation being seen between Israelis and Palestinians in Israel protesting against the government as we speak. Here I am have taken sides, I am with the Israeli and Palestinian people and against the government who conduct discriminatory polices and a murderous occupation that is affecting not just the Palestinians but Israelis and a growing section of the rest of the world.
wow you really are nieve , the israeli government is the Israeli people , the question is , are the rulers of Gaza the palastinian people ,
Gaza will never be free untill the armed rulers stop using weapons to scare there own people , a hair dresser arested for doing womens hair
The people from Gaza deserve better , they deseve leaders who want equality for men and women,The palastinians are clever ingeneous
people who if allowed to go forward will create a fine country
only there leaders hold them back
As for the flotilla I dont believe you know anyone , if so they would tell you the truth . all the ships were peaceful only one ship thought to use violence ,
interesting that you dont mention the other ships ,
Gaza will be free only through negotiation
The Israeli people are the Israeli Government?
So they are protesting at themselves? Really I don’t know what to say to this logic Robert especially when you say I am the one being naive.
And if you wish to call me a liar about who I know and what my friends say then is there much point us talking about this? I have many friends, journalists and even past colleagues from IHH I can run you a list of names off if you would like but it seems you have made your mind up already.
With people like you supporting the palastinians , the palastinians can look forward to more years of hell
You have said nothing positve at all only the week arguments
from properganda sheets , where are your answers ? The seige began
when the Hamas took over , the Incursion after the rockets , the
ship where the violence was , just happened to be turks? from the IHH .
You have no answers , So here are a few just to help you in future
The palastinians see Israel and want a similar country with freedom
and democracy, the people in Gaza are held hostage and the majority would prefer peace to rockets , The amazing speakers like Hanan ashrawi Saib arikat could if allowed , bring a palastinian homeland
which is well over due very quickly , Violence plays into the right wing of Israel and has gradually brought Israel to a situation where no one believes a word they say, Palastine will only come about when the 2 sides , fatah and Hamas talk and mend fences,this looks unlikely,
By the way , calling you a liar is certainly not what I meant , ill informed and open to childish arguments , yes , I would suggest a trip to the west bank and Israel , talk to arabs and israelis ,They
narly all want a quiet life ,
we don’t need zionist’s in our country they are not welcome in our country send tem to the usa where they belong, leave ireland alone and while the zionist’s read this get to hell out of gaza.
HAIL TO THE USERPERS.
Hail to the usurpers triumphant in their killing and stealing.
No need for stealth someone else’s land up for grabs in full media glare to snatch with both hands.
The new Nazis Order, no gas chambers these days they just deliver high tech phosphorous bombs.
Who plays the sad farewell violin while boasting of murder these days.
Triumphant to the world as people fall.
Hail to the good and great new order, ‘George W. their dear and good brother.
Under cruel Zion’s thin veneer they trumpet loudly of self centred hurt.
Wringing blood stained hands in front of full blown media stare.
Comforted by their friend ‘Old Albion’ who drew their boundary lines in blood and sand.
To allow the false tribe wish’s for other people’s lands.