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Irish artists and musicians boycott Israel

By
CATHY HAYES,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Friday, August 13, 2010, 9:00 AM
Updated Friday, August 13, 2010, 9:16 AM

 

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Damien Dempsey, Dublin singer-songwriter, signs the Irish pledge from artists and musicians to boycott Israel
Damien Dempsey, Dublin singer-songwriter, signs the Irish pledge from artists and musicians to boycott Israel

More than 150 Irish artists have announced that they will not perform or exhibit in Israel, or accept any funding from any institutions connected to the Israeli government.

The Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) has announced this move with the aim of protesting Israel's "treatment of the Palestinian people"

Raymond Dean, from the IPSC said “Artists who perform there are backing it [the Israeli government] whether they like it or not.”
Irish artists signed a pledge that they would continue their boycott "until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights”.

Deane said: “You can’t really pin this down…at least an end of the occupation of Palestine; dismantling or at least stopping the settlements; and Israel negotiating in good faith with the Palestinians”.

He also quoted a statement from the Foreign Ministry in Israeli, in 2005. It said Israel considers culture to be a propaganda tool.
Dublin singer-songwriter, Damien Dempsey, said that he hoped that the artists boycott might encourage the young people of Israel to "speak out" against the government. He said the world needs to stand up against the Israeli military.

Folk musician, Donal Lunny, said he has signed the pledge to "express solidarity with the Palestinian people”.

Eoin Dillon, from the band Kila, was asked if he thought the pledge would be successful. He said "It worked in South Africa.”

A spokesperson from the Israeli embassy said that the boycott was "regrettable and ill-advised”. He said that the pledge was “vilifying and ostracizing Israel and promoting a lose-lose program of boycotts is not the way to secure legitimate Palestinian rights”.
 

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Posted by jeandoherty on Feb 03, 2011, 06:33 AM EST
i am only new to all this isaels history and what is going on but i do know what history has said about isreal and all the wars against it and it seems to me that its been through so much and yet it still is here even though most nations have tried to kill it off in most century's gone by and i do know that it was around in the time of christ and before that time it has been invaded by so many kings rulers and nations and is still going i know the bible talks about it been here in the end and that every nation who comes against it will be destroyed i hope ireland isn one of them as i want my next generation to enjoy life and to know that they have a nation that is blessed by God and as it says in Genesis 12 verse 1-3 if you bless israel you will be blessed if anyone wants to argue with me sorry im not going too as i do believe the bible and do know it is the word of God and He has talked about israel the nation in the last days there would be wars and rumors of wars but God would protect it isaiah 19 talks about egypt and israel also tanks for listening or reading this
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Posted by biyat777 on Jan 07, 2011, 03:46 AM EST
To woundedknee, yes you might know a bit about American history but you know nothing about Israel's history. Other than leftist views if you were aware of true history you maybe would think twice about Jew bashing. I am a Christian and I dont tolerate murderers of innocents, like the Arab Palestinians who have killed more Jews than all the combined Arabs that died in War with Israel. For your interest, Hamas recently admitted that more than 600 of their militants died in the war which drastically reduces the numbers of civilians claimed to have been killed. Although it is calamity when civilians die, get grounded about the fact that civilians die in every war. Millions died in the 2 nuclear bombs America dropped in Japan but it made Japan surrender. Israel went to war because it couldnt stand by and see Hamas lob over 8000 rockets into Israel. Stop your crap and also realize that most Jews don't care about Irish musicians playing in Israel.
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Posted by GeorgeDillon on Sep 04, 2010, 11:03 AM EDT
ralphsrant1: If you don t know the difference between the Little Big Horn and Wounded Knee you are clueless about US history.
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Posted by bonbon1 on Aug 30, 2010, 11:06 AM EDT
Israel is a nation where the Jewish people have lived for over five thousand years.How long do they have to live there for christians (orig.2000Yrs.) or muslims (orig.1500Yrs.) to figure out who has a right to be living in Israel. How many rockets fired by Palestinians into Israel from Gaza, a former part of Israel that was turned over to the palestinians would it take for an Irish musician or artist to understand that it is unacceptable to send thousands of rockets into populated areas to kill people? I guess terrorist activities are condoned by Irish musicians & artists. I guess they need to start up a group in Ireland and start up killings in Ireland.
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Posted by AbeBird on Aug 20, 2010, 08:33 AM EDT
As an Israeli I have to say that I didn't hear about those 150 Irish artists and singers until now and don't care if I wouldn't hear them ever. But I have a question to the participants here, do you have names of artists and singers who refused to sign this stupid, uneducated and vague petition, because I really want to meet and know the Irish culture but only served by decent artists. http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-cead-mile-failte-to-hell-mr-israeli-ambassador-2304976.html
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Posted by ralphsrant1 on Aug 19, 2010, 09:25 AM EDT
I know what wounded knee was and when Custer last stand was a famous battle too and there was massacre of both sides both Custer and civilians. And where is your knowledge of history the law was around since the 70's. By the way I never said I was Christian I said friends who are.
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Posted by WoundedKnee on Aug 19, 2010, 06:34 AM EDT
ralphsrant---It wouldn't surprise me if you were right that Congress has passed some dumb resolution to that effect. The US Congress is after all, in Pat Buchanan's memorably apt phrase "Israel-occupied territory". However I am more intrigued at your claim to be a "Christian". Since when did Christians support mass killing, such as happened in Gaza a couple of years ago, or the mad murder spree on the relief supply boat a month or two back. I happen to be a Christian too (Catholic, the oldest Christians of all) and I have never read of Christ urging people to massacre others. Maybe you'd give us chapter and verse, or admit that it's only your own crazy concoction of Christianity that cheerleads for cruelty and murder. What other killers do you love apart from the Israelis, by the way? A final point. You need to study US history. Wounded Knee does not refer to a "famous battle". What ignorance. Wounded Knee was a massacre of native people by outsiders who were stealing their homeland. See why it's relevant now?
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Posted by shidoobe on Aug 18, 2010, 11:12 PM EDT
Maybe the Israelis will boycott U2? ha ha ha SO IMMATURE all this boycotting thing
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Posted by ralphsrant1 on Aug 18, 2010, 11:17 AM EDT
WoundedKnee Boycotting Israel is against US law and the performers can be prevented from entering the US to perform. Have link but I guess IrishCentral won't allow links.
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Posted by ralphsrant1 on Aug 18, 2010, 10:47 AM EDT
WoundedKnee are you a native American playing on a famous 19th century battle? Or are you a racist? Or are you playing on the name for sympathy? Are you Irish why are you supporting terrorism? I and many of my friends who include Christians boycott Ireland and Irish products and artist for their anti Israel stand.
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Posted by WoundedKnee on Aug 18, 2010, 02:45 AM EDT
ralphrant: "Maybe we Americans should boycott Irish Products and Ireland". Oh, so you're more loyal to a foreign country, Israel, than you are to the US? That's the definition of a traitor.
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Posted by WoundedKnee on Aug 18, 2010, 02:43 AM EDT
seanomelbourne: I haven't noticed any very cogent posts from you. When you have sent in a few interesting or insightful posts notify me, and I will decide whether you deserve to be taken seriously. Right now I would say you're a zero.
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Posted by seanomelbourne on Aug 17, 2010, 09:54 PM EDT
Tone it down wounded knee,personalising and name calling weakens your argument.
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Posted by ralphsrant1 on Aug 17, 2010, 09:06 PM EDT
Maybe we Americans should boycott Irish Products and Ireland
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Posted by ralphsrant1 on Aug 17, 2010, 09:04 PM EDT
Maybe we Americans should start a boycott of Ireland and Irish products.
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Posted by willieboy on Aug 17, 2010, 08:03 PM EDT
Who the hell cares what a bunch of zero astists have to say...your people should know the plight of the Jewish people better that most. Or, did you ancestors enjoy the Brits all them years???
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Posted by WoundedKnee on Aug 17, 2010, 03:14 AM EDT
Is that that Irish tramp from Cork in the photo of the Israeli woman soldier humiliating a Palestinian they have dragged from his home? Nauseating.
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Posted by AltRockAddict on Aug 16, 2010, 10:41 PM EDT
@GeorgeDillon == Are you kidding me? B-Man probably had a row with Sean Penn about this very subject last night. Bono does have a backbone (no pun intended) no matter who he 'runs' with. In interviews he has expressed Zionist views...Time will tell.
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Posted by GeorgeDillon on Aug 16, 2010, 02:41 AM EDT
U2 are fakes and phonies, well Bono is, the others don't claim to be anything more than what they are. Bono runs with the ultra-rich and powerful of the world, you'll never find him siding with the poor and powerless.
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Posted by GeorgeDillon on Aug 16, 2010, 02:39 AM EDT
I am as opposed to Israeli colonialism as are all reasonable people, but in this case I think the above "boycott" resembles the Mass "boycott" proposed for Ireland. In both cases, we have people boycotting something they don't do. I haven't smoked since 1991... mmmm... I'm not going to buy a pack tomorrow--I'll be BOYCOTTING cigarettes!
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Posted by GeorgeDillon on Aug 16, 2010, 02:36 AM EDT
rcrdskpr@aol.com: Less of your nasty racist language. Obama was not "offered a homeland"--Israel made a proposal that was unacceptable to the Palestinains. The way you put it is racist and demeaning to the Palestinians. It suggets they have no right to negotiate their own future. Why didn't you say "Israel was ofered a settlement but rejected it"?
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Posted by AltRockAddict on Aug 15, 2010, 09:38 PM EDT
Thank God U2 has not joined this atrocity! They are clearly more intelligent than most Irish artists who are being manipulated by the pro-Palestinian press. I stand with all of you who have left comments here supporting Israel. Shalom!
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Posted by rcrdskpr@aol.com on Aug 15, 2010, 09:23 PM EDT
has everybody forgotten that the "palestine people" were offered a homeland the at the same time the jews were, and refused it. in fact, yassar arafat refused a homeland seveal times.
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Posted by vincem13 on Aug 15, 2010, 08:34 PM EDT
Don't forget, boycotts can work both ways. Those who side with Israel in these disputes, like me, can very easily decide NOT to buy Irish music or entertainment videos. Every time Israel has buckled to International (usually American Presidential) pressure and given "Land for Peace", Israel has gotten smaller but no safer. The bombings, rocket and mortar blasts pick up in pace. There isn't a map in ANY "Palestinian" schools with Israel on it. They all show it gone. Is that what you artsy types want? If so, just say so.
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Posted by Starlet on Aug 15, 2010, 06:35 PM EDT
manofaran You obviously don't read the Old Tesatament let alone believe in it. So, you can hardly understand the whole concept of the Land of Israel. That's why it's all c..p to you.
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Posted by Dompedro on Aug 15, 2010, 01:34 PM EDT
when Hamas "complies with International law" ..... and human rights
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Posted by Fatherpat on Aug 15, 2010, 11:41 AM EDT
Dear censor..... Saint Bono of you two and Forbes magazine and "Sir" Bob Geldoff are NOT on this list, as can be expected. It's one thing to preach and rant against poverty and global misery, quite another to stand up against those responsible for keeping innocent people IN poverty. Go all the way and Boycott the bullies in apartheid Palestine. Know them by barcode 729 Free Palestine now.
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Posted by HorsesInMdstrm on Aug 15, 2010, 09:59 AM EDT
Back in 1948 I lived next door to a Jewish family in Philadelphia. My best friend was the younger son. I remember the exaltation his older brother and sister felt when Israel achieved recognition from the US. So I have been a supporter of Israeli independence myself all these years. That said, I think that the religious right in Israel has exacerbated what would be serious tensions anyway by the taking of land from Palestinians areas for settlements. The UN has condemned the settlements in the West Bank. I also see a pattern of Israel disrupting Palestinian efforts to improve economically. My examples are anecdotal and won't persuade everyone, and I don't plan to go into them here. (Whew) Over the last bunch of years, I have come to see the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians as very analogous to England and Ireland. And as a result I have come around to wanting to see action in the international community to rein in the excesses in Israeli policy and actions. Even the American Jewish community is nervous about some of Israel's actions. Only the evangelical Christian community (not completely, but in large part) seems to support Israel wholeheartedly, because they think they can convert them to Christianity as the end of days approaches. This boycott effort, while small and of little import on its own, is what could happen elsewhere. Through all of the above, I still support Israel's right to exist, and to be a contributing member to the goodwill of the worldwide community.
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Posted by Eadhmonn on Aug 15, 2010, 09:22 AM EDT
Whats Next ? North Korean Day in Dublin ? Or How about The Green Killing Fields of Cambodia Celebrations, I will NOT buy any CD's from any so called Musician participating in this absolute stupidity- LONG LIVE ISRAEL !!!
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Posted by DennisQ on Aug 15, 2010, 12:26 AM EDT
Of course we wouldn't give Ireland the same amount of money no strings attached that we give Israel every year. Israel has 7.5 million people; Ireland has only 4.5 million people. So to put Ireland and Israel on an equal footing, we'd give Ireland €1.4 bn and keep Israel on at the same €2.4 that country receives from us every year. What would Mr Lenihan do with money like that in his 2010 budget? Everybody in Ireland is paying more and getting less. Children are getting a lot less.

Here's what could be restored in the Irish budget if Ireland were to receive pro rata what Israel receives every year: €400 million cut from Health and Children; €760 million cut from Social and Family Affairs; €134 million cut from Education and Science; and for good meansure, and additional €78 million cut from Environment, Heritage and Local Government could be restored.

The point here is that the money that America gives to Israel is real money and there are other uses to which it can be put. For example, how many children's breakfasts could be purchased with the price of a canister of white phosphorus dumped on civilians in Gaza. Note that there's no claim for the entire amount Israel gets every year from America; there has been a downward adjustment to factor in the difference in the respective populations of the two countries.

Incidentally, what do the Israelis do with the money besides pay the IDF? They certainly don't waste it on social welfare programs for Arabs.


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