Stormont Leaders Wine and Dine with U.S. Ambassadors while Gaza Burns
We’re witnessing a genocide of Palestinians in real time.
Israel is being enabled and egged on by the United States. Joe Biden has lied on Israel’s behalf, ultimately giving the green light to war crimes. Worse still, he seems intent on escalation.
But the US has a unique ability to rein Israel in. As missiles rain down, every elected political leader in Ireland should be banging down the doors of the US counterparts, demanding a ceasefire, demanding an end to ethnic cleansing.
On the contrary, Joe Kennedy III (US Special Envoy to NI) and Jane Hartley (US Ambassador to the UK), have been whisked across the North for special celebratory dinners and promises of US investment.
Our leaders have grinned for photo ops. They have promoted the “importance” of our connection to the US.
Not once have they challenged these US diplomats on the genocide of Palestinians or called out publicly the murderous role of the US. Not once have they used their position to put any sort of pressure on Biden’s administration.
We expect this from the DUP and UUP – they have always stood behind Israel’s crimes – while Alliance have never taken a principled stand on Palestine.
More disappointing is the silence of Sinn Féin. Sinn Féin members across Ireland pride themselves on support for Palestinian liberation. Yet their leadership is wining and dining with representatives of US imperialism, and not a peep uttered about the blood on Biden’s hands.
This may explain why Sinn Féin councillors on Derry-Strabane council argued against a motion expelling the Israeli ambassador. This, despite calls for such an expulsion being a key facet of Sinn Féin rhetoric in the recent past.
Israel has proven it doesn’t care in the slightest about international appeals. We need to do what was done to bring down Apartheid South Africa: international Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions.
A critical step is expelling the Israeli ambassador. Such a move could break the Western silence on this genocide. It might just start a domino effect.
It isn’t too late to change course. All elected politicians in Ireland must call out the US. Stop cosying up to their representatives. And back the call to expel the Israeli ambassador.
