Ireland latest EU state to defend BDS
By Kevin Squires, The
Electronic Intifada, 28 May 2016.
Electronic Intifada, 28 May 2016.
A Palestine solidarity contingent takes
part in the Reclaim the Vision of 1916 march in Dublin, on 24 April, marking
100 years since Ireland’s Easter Rising. (via Facebook)
part in the Reclaim the Vision of 1916 march in Dublin, on 24 April, marking
100 years since Ireland’s Easter Rising. (via Facebook)
In another blow to the Israeli campaign to
criminalize Palestine solidarity activism, the Irish government has affirmed
that the global boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement represents a
“legitimate” means of protest “intended to pressure Israel into ending the
occupation.”
criminalize Palestine solidarity activism, the Irish government has affirmed
that the global boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement represents a
“legitimate” means of protest “intended to pressure Israel into ending the
occupation.”
In the Irish parliament on Thursday,
foreign minister Charles Flanagan stated that “while the government does
not itself support such a policy,” the BDS movement holds a “legitimate
political viewpoint” and that the government does “not agree with attempts to demonize
those who advocate this policy.”
foreign minister Charles Flanagan stated that “while the government does
not itself support such a policy,” the BDS movement holds a “legitimate
political viewpoint” and that the government does “not agree with attempts to demonize
those who advocate this policy.”
Second blow in
a week
a week
This is the second major setback Israel
has suffered this week to its campaign to delegitimize and criminalize the
global movement within the European Union and other Western states.
has suffered this week to its campaign to delegitimize and criminalize the
global movement within the European Union and other Western states.
Ireland is the third EU government to make
such a statement in recent months.
such a statement in recent months.
Earlier this week, Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders said that “statements or meetings
concerning BDS are protected by freedom of expression and freedom of assembly,
as enshrined in the Dutch constitution and the European Convention on Human
Rights.”
concerning BDS are protected by freedom of expression and freedom of assembly,
as enshrined in the Dutch constitution and the European Convention on Human
Rights.”
In March, the Swedish foreign ministry stated that BDS “is a civil society
movement. Governments should not interfere in civil society organization
views.”
movement. Governments should not interfere in civil society organization
views.”
At Israel’s urging, governments in the US, UK, France,
Canada and elsewhere are attempting to introduce anti-democratic legislation, and taking other
repressive measures to undermine the BDS movement.
Canada and elsewhere are attempting to introduce anti-democratic legislation, and taking other
repressive measures to undermine the BDS movement.
Israel has also said that it is using its
intelligence services to spy on BDS activists around the world.
intelligence services to spy on BDS activists around the world.
Gilad
Erdan, the Israeli cabinet minister charged with combating the
global movement, described BDS activists as threats, saying they must “pay the price” for
their campaign work.
Erdan, the Israeli cabinet minister charged with combating the
global movement, described BDS activists as threats, saying they must “pay the price” for
their campaign work.
“With the Netherlands and Ireland joining
Sweden in defending the right to advocate and campaign for Palestinian rights
under international law through BDS, Israel’s attempt to get BDS outlawed in
Europe and to bully its supporters into silence have been dealt a serious
blow,” said Riya Hassan, Europe coordinator for
the Palestinian BDS National Committee.
Sweden in defending the right to advocate and campaign for Palestinian rights
under international law through BDS, Israel’s attempt to get BDS outlawed in
Europe and to bully its supporters into silence have been dealt a serious
blow,” said Riya Hassan, Europe coordinator for
the Palestinian BDS National Committee.
“Israel’s attacks on our movement appear
to be backfiring as they have led to European governments and some of the world’s
most famous human rights organizations and political organizations across
Europe and the world speaking out in defense of our right to advocate BDS,”
Hassan added.
to be backfiring as they have led to European governments and some of the world’s
most famous human rights organizations and political organizations across
Europe and the world speaking out in defense of our right to advocate BDS,”
Hassan added.
“Across European civil society, there is a
fast spreading recognition of the BDS movement as a legitimate form of
nonviolent, grassroots human rights advocacy for the UN-stipulated rights of
the Palestinian people,” Hassan said.
fast spreading recognition of the BDS movement as a legitimate form of
nonviolent, grassroots human rights advocacy for the UN-stipulated rights of
the Palestinian people,” Hassan said.
Ireland “deeply
concerned” about Omar Barghouti
concerned” about Omar Barghouti
The Irish foreign minister’s comments came
in the context of a parliamentary debate concerning Palestinian human rights
defender and co-founder of the BDS movement Omar Barghouti, who is facing politically motivated repression by
Israel.
in the context of a parliamentary debate concerning Palestinian human rights
defender and co-founder of the BDS movement Omar Barghouti, who is facing politically motivated repression by
Israel.
Israel is refusing to renew the travel
document of Barghouti, a Palestinian born in the diaspora married to a
Palestinian citizen of Israel, preventing him from pursuing his campaign work
internationally. He has been told that his permanent residency status is being
reviewed.
document of Barghouti, a Palestinian born in the diaspora married to a
Palestinian citizen of Israel, preventing him from pursuing his campaign work
internationally. He has been told that his permanent residency status is being
reviewed.
The human rights groups Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Front Line Defenders have all made
statements concerning Barghouti’s liberty and safety, with Amnesty and Front
Line Defenders designating him a human rights defender.
statements concerning Barghouti’s liberty and safety, with Amnesty and Front
Line Defenders designating him a human rights defender.
Responding to a question from the
Anti-Austerity Alliance member of parliament Mick Barry, the foreign minister
said that “the EU delegation in Israel has asked for clarification of
[Barghouti’s] position and we will follow all developments in the case.”
Anti-Austerity Alliance member of parliament Mick Barry, the foreign minister
said that “the EU delegation in Israel has asked for clarification of
[Barghouti’s] position and we will follow all developments in the case.”
Flanagan added that the government was
“deeply concerned about wider [Israeli] attempts to pressure [nongovernmental
organizations] and human rights defenders through legislation and other means
to hinder their important work. We have raised this both at EU level and
directly with the Israeli authorities.”
“deeply concerned about wider [Israeli] attempts to pressure [nongovernmental
organizations] and human rights defenders through legislation and other means
to hinder their important work. We have raised this both at EU level and
directly with the Israeli authorities.”
The minister also promised that the Irish
government “will monitor the ongoing developments in this case in conjunction
with the EU delegation and as part of our broader engagement in support of the
role of human rights defenders and the protection of civil society space.”
government “will monitor the ongoing developments in this case in conjunction
with the EU delegation and as part of our broader engagement in support of the
role of human rights defenders and the protection of civil society space.”
Flagging friend
of Israel
of Israel
The Irish government’s position will
perhaps be especially galling for Israeli officials as Flanagan is considered
to be very friendly towards Israel, having formerly been a member of the small
Friends of Israel grouping in the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament.
perhaps be especially galling for Israeli officials as Flanagan is considered
to be very friendly towards Israel, having formerly been a member of the small
Friends of Israel grouping in the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament.
Before becoming foreign minister in July
2014, as chair of the governing right-wing Fine Gael party, Flanagan was a
vocal opponent of the BDS movement.
2014, as chair of the governing right-wing Fine Gael party, Flanagan was a
vocal opponent of the BDS movement.
In 2013 he publicly criticized the Teachers’ Union
of Ireland for its adoption of a motion to support the academic boycott of Israel.
of Ireland for its adoption of a motion to support the academic boycott of Israel.
In 2012, Flanagan lambasted Trocaire, the
overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland, when it began a campaign asking the Irish
government to ban products from Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank,
which are illegal under international law, calling the move a “very partisan
political campaign that is beyond their remit.”
overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland, when it began a campaign asking the Irish
government to ban products from Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank,
which are illegal under international law, calling the move a “very partisan
political campaign that is beyond their remit.”
In a 2013 interview with pro-Israel
columnist Carol Hunt, Flanagan made clear his belief that “Israel has
been demonized by an Irish media slavishly dancing to the Palestinian drumbeat
for decades.”
columnist Carol Hunt, Flanagan made clear his belief that “Israel has
been demonized by an Irish media slavishly dancing to the Palestinian drumbeat
for decades.”
“Israel has a far better and more
progressive record on human rights than any of its neighbors,” Flanagan
claimed. “The truth must be told.”
progressive record on human rights than any of its neighbors,” Flanagan
claimed. “The truth must be told.”
But now it would appear that even for
certain officials and governments with sympathies towards Israel, including
Flanagan, the latest attacks on the civil society BDS campaign are proving
either too anti-democratic or too embarrassing to defend.
certain officials and governments with sympathies towards Israel, including
Flanagan, the latest attacks on the civil society BDS campaign are proving
either too anti-democratic or too embarrassing to defend.
Notably, in the Irish general election
earlier this year, Israel lost three of its most vocal parliamentary friends;disgraced former minister for justice and
defense Alan Shatter of Fine Gael and Joanna Tuffy of the Labour Party lost
their seats, while former education minister Ruairi Quinn, also of Labour, did
not contest the election.
earlier this year, Israel lost three of its most vocal parliamentary friends;disgraced former minister for justice and
defense Alan Shatter of Fine Gael and Joanna Tuffy of the Labour Party lost
their seats, while former education minister Ruairi Quinn, also of Labour, did
not contest the election.
Tuffy was vice-chair of the small Oireachtas
Friends of Israel group.
Friends of Israel group.
Meanwhile, a pre-election campaign
initiated by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign saw around
40 candidates who were ultimately elected to Ireland’s 158-seat
parliament sign pledges opposing the Irish arms trade with Israel and
supporting the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to
Israel’s human rights violations.
initiated by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign saw around
40 candidates who were ultimately elected to Ireland’s 158-seat
parliament sign pledges opposing the Irish arms trade with Israel and
supporting the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to
Israel’s human rights violations.
Israeli funding
booted from literary festival
booted from literary festival
This wasn’t the only bad news for Israel’s
propaganda, or hasbara, efforts in Ireland this week.
propaganda, or hasbara, efforts in Ireland this week.
On Tuesday, the Listowel Writers’ Week
Festival announced it would be refusing funding
from the Israeli embassy in Ireland to bring an Israeli writer to the festival.
Festival announced it would be refusing funding
from the Israeli embassy in Ireland to bring an Israeli writer to the festival.
The issue came to light on Sunday when
members of Ireland’s artistic community began highlighting on social media that
the festival’s brochure listed an event in which the Israeli embassy was
explicitly thanked for its support.
members of Ireland’s artistic community began highlighting on social media that
the festival’s brochure listed an event in which the Israeli embassy was
explicitly thanked for its support.
After having been contacted by concerned
individuals, including many artists, the organizers announced that the fesitval
would honor its commitment to host the Israeli writer Savyon Liebrecht, but was
rejecting the Israeli embassy funding.
individuals, including many artists, the organizers announced that the fesitval
would honor its commitment to host the Israeli writer Savyon Liebrecht, but was
rejecting the Israeli embassy funding.
This move is in line with cultural boycott guidelines issued
by PACBI, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of
Israel, which call for a boycott of Israeli institutions, not individuals.
by PACBI, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of
Israel, which call for a boycott of Israeli institutions, not individuals.
“As a Palestinian woman who is exiled from
her homeland, I thank the festival for refusing to take Israeli state funding
for this event,” IPSC chair Fatin Al Tamimi said, “This decision is courageous, principled
and absolutely the right thing to do. This is a small, but certainly
significant, positive gesture that will be appreciated by the Palestinian
people struggling for freedom, justice and equality, whether under Israel’s
apartheid regime or living in exile.”
her homeland, I thank the festival for refusing to take Israeli state funding
for this event,” IPSC chair Fatin Al Tamimi said, “This decision is courageous, principled
and absolutely the right thing to do. This is a small, but certainly
significant, positive gesture that will be appreciated by the Palestinian
people struggling for freedom, justice and equality, whether under Israel’s
apartheid regime or living in exile.”
Kevin Squires is a journalist and national
coordinator of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
coordinator of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
