A ray of hope for Israel's relations with Europe
Dr. Zion Evrony, Israel's ambassador to Ireland, visited the town of Carrickmacross and signed the town's distinguished guest book. The town's councilors voted to remove the page in which Dr. Evrony's signature appeared. Now, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin has taken the town council to task for its actions. Irish minister Micheal Martin said the council was guilty of "disrespect".Al-Beeb strongly implies that the reason for the town council's action was the use of Irish passports in the liquidation of Hamas murderer and arms dealer Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. But that seems doubtful in light of this.
The minister, who has just returned from a trip to Gaza, said he shared concerns about parts of Israel's track record but that he disagreed with the decision to remove Dr Zion Evrony's name from the book.
He added: "It is a basic principle of relations between states that we treat each other's diplomatic representatives with civility and respect, regardless of any policy differences."
Nevertheless, local Sinn Fein councillor Matt Carthy, who tabled the motion, said he hoped the removal of the page would send a serious message to the Israeli government.And some of my best friends are Jewish.
He added: "I think if a government is responsible for a wholesale disregard for international law, then local authorities as well as our own government have a responsibility to tell them we expect a higher standard.
"Carrickmacross is a very welcoming town but it was important that we took a stand."
Mr Carthy, who took part in a protest during Ambassador Evrony's visit to the market town in January, said the decision was not a snub to all Israelis.
"Certainly any Israeli individual who wanted to visit Carrickmacross is very welcome to visit, but this was an official visit which meant our council was associated with it," he said.
In any event, Martin's actions give some hope for Israel's relations with Ireland. Hopefully there are other cooler heads around in Europe.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:40 PM
6 Comments:
That's a ray of hope?
"Nevertheless, local Sinn Fein councillor Matt Carthy, who tabled the motion, said he hoped the removal of the page would send a serious message to the Israeli government."
Now, isn't that brazen hypocrisy, coming from a member of the Sinn Fein (pronounced as shin fane-meaning in Gaelic for "Ourselves Alone") Party, formerly the acknowledged front organization of the Irish Republican Army. Currently led by Gerry Adams, known to have been a member of the IRA's ruling council.
By the way, we could also talk about past ties between the PLO and the IRA. "Brothers in blood", we could say.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinn_Fein
Let us not forget that Sinn Fein supported the PLO and still supports Hamas and Fatah.
They are marxists.
Also, the Irish Republic, though nominally neutral during WW2, supported the Nazis and helped them.
I know Chaim Weizmann was born in Ireland, but he did the sensible thing and left when he could.
Juniper in the Desert shows his
ignorance.
Chaim Weizman was born in Minsk (Belarus).
Chaim Herzog the son of the famous Rabbi Herzog was born in Belfast
(Nth. Ireland.)
consi"also, the Irish Republic, though nominally neutral during WW2, supported the Nazis and helped them"
this is such a stupid comment and shows jupiters' lack of knowledge on the subject.
Ireland was neutral, the country did not support Nazis nor did they help them.
It is an historical fact that the country help the Allies in many ways.
the reason that the town council did what they did was because of Israel's appalling human rights record and the continued occupation and of another country.
As a constituent of the said town council, I for one am glad that they were called to task by the minister.
How dare they offend a foreign ambassador and sovereign nation in my name.
Mind you I have had words with councillor Matt Carthy on the doorstep.
I do take exception to Juniper's comment that Ireland or the Irish Free state as it was at the time supported the Nazis.
In fact James Dillon, the T.D. representing the constituency in which Carrickmacross is situated resigned from his party Fine Gael in 1942 over their stance on Irish neutrality during World War II, when he urged the government to abandon neutrality and side with the Allies.
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