The Call by 61 Irish Academics to Boycott Israel (my letter to Haaretz)

Dear Sir:

THE CALL FOR BOYCOTT BY 61 IRISH ACADEMICS

Haaretz’ article on Sept. 29th (www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=768745) says "The Irish government does not support any move to isolate Israel or Israeli institutions.."

Actually, the Irish parliament’s Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs issued a statement during the recent conflict, “condemning civilian deaths, the damage done to civilian infrastructure in Lebanon on such a scale as to render over 750,000 people homeless, the attack on a UN outpost which killed four peacekeepers, and the slaughter at Qana” and called for an immediate ceasefire. Critically, it recommended: “That Ireland raise at the next meeting of the EU Council of Ministers the implementation of sanctions on Israel under the terms of Article II of the Euromed Trade Agreement on grounds of human rights abuses;" and "[T]hat consideration be given to taking legal action against Israel for compensation for its killing of UN personnel and the civilian population and destruction of facilities." It "condemned the seizure of water resources by Israel in the region and urged the UN to establish a permanent specialized team to control and ensure the fair distribution of all water resources." It further "called for a rejection of militarism and a sustained engagement by the European Union and the UN on a set of political proposals as would support the establishment of a viable contiguous Palestinian state, and would enable true security to be provided for Israel based on accepted borders and withdrawal from occupied territories." Finally: "For the Irish Government to advocate at EU and UN level the establishment of an internationally sponsored Peace Process, with a permanent secretariat, to bring together all sides including Israel and the United States for negotiations.”

Ireland has had centuries of experience of occupation, evictions, demolitions, religious conflict, land grab and racism. So the Irish are extremely sympathetic to the plight of Palestinians suffering under Occupation. On a recent visit, I was impressed by the high level of understanding of this conflict by academics, diplomats, politicians, journalists, radio talk show hosts, prominent musicians, activists or The Man in the Street. It has nothing to do with anti-semitism. These people are eager for an end to 40 years of a cruel Occupation which is destroying the Occupier together with the Occupied.

Those of us working for progress, peace and a viable Palestinian state next to a secure Israel much appreciated the statement of the Irish Parliament’s Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. The current Irish peace process could teach us much, were we of a mind to start seriously thinking about our sustainable, long term future, instead of continuing a wilful, pernicious and self-destructive state of denial.


Sincerely,
Angela Godfrey-Goldstein
Action Advocacy Officer
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions