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Home Page > News > Irish broadcaster denies he is anti-Semitic after complaints from Israeli embassy

Irish broadcaster denies he is anti-Semitic after complaints from Israeli embassy

Vincent Browne labels Israel a ‘cancer’ in foreign affairs

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, October 27, 2012, 8:10 AM

Updated Saturday, October 27, 2012, 8:10 AM

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Vincent Browne

Infamous Irish broadcaster Vincent Browne has slammed claims he is anti-Semitic – after branding Israel as a ‘cancer’ in foreign affairs.

Former newspaper editor Browne now presents a controversial late night political debate show on the independent TV3 station.

He was forced to clarify his stance after Israel’s deputy ambassador to Ireland told media outlets that she never believed the day would come when an Irish TV presenter would make ‘racist, anti-Semitic remarks’.

Browne had complained on his show of the lack of discussion of Israel during the last US presidential debate between Republican nominee Mitt Romney and US President Barack Obama.

He said: “Israel is the cancer in foreign affairs. It polarises the Islamic community of the world against the rest of the world.

“Unless you deal with the problem of Israel and the Palestinians in that part of the world, there’s going to be conflict and disharmony. It’s a massive injustice - they stole the land from the Arabs.”

Browne later admitted to the Irish Independent that his choice of language could have been better but insisted that the criticism was justified.

He added: “What I resent is the suggestion that because you’re critical of Israel, you’re automatically anti-Semitic. I don’t think that’s acceptable.”

The notorious presenter then refused to apologise for his remarks and said that Israel was founded in 1948 by taking land from the Arabs.

Browne stated: “It is blackmail to try to brand everyone who was critical of Israel as anti-Semitic. I don’t think I differ too much from Irish or European foreign policy.”

Israel’s deputy ambassador to Ireland Nurit Tinari-Modai has taken grave exception to Browne’s remarks after revealing her grandparents were brutally murdered during the Holocaust.

She said: “I would have never believed that the day would come when a presenter on an Irish TV station would make racist, anti-Semitic remarks.”

Nster.com

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shuvonn | Nov 07, 2012, 08:34 AM EST

Do you consider it to be brave and competent when the number of Palestinian chidren that have died at the hands of israel and the idf aince the end of September 2000 is 1,476 and the number of israeli children is 126 for that same time period. It is no beacon of humanity when idf members were caught using Palestinian children as human shields while accusing Palestinians of same. As George Bernard Shaw said "The liar's punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else." That is why israel never allows inquiries by ANYONE else except themselves not even the UN, it blocked and delayed the Goldstone inquiry and blacklisted him, would not even allow him into israel to visit his family. And IF it was wrong for israelis to be disposed in 634, then it's wrong for israel to do the same to Palestinians, and really enough of the beacon of hope surrounded by enemies, they CHOSE where to pitch their tent, and they created many of the enemies by attacking neighbors, and stealing land from all around. To rational, sane people there are TWO sides in the wrong here, one side does NOT hold the moral high ground even if they claim *GOD* gave them that land. Some of you only count the rockets INTO israel and forget the rockets OUT of israel INTO Gaza. The double hypocritical standard is amazing to me... and yet it continues

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seanomelb | Nov 05, 2012, 09:08 PM EST

Retroactively rewriting history is a symptom of your ignorance Strongbow

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Strongbow | Nov 05, 2012, 08:23 PM EST

The IDF is one of the most dedicated brave and competent military organizations in the world. They drove the British Army out of Palestine, one of the most prized and strategic possessions of any world power. The Israelis achieved in a few years what the Irish failed to do in 600. Israel didn't become the present day beacon of humanity by being soft.

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seanomelb | Nov 05, 2012, 01:47 AM EST

Stick to the point if you can Strongbow!! pettiness does not become you. If you are anti Irish shift to an IDF terrorist sight or the BNP site.

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Strongbow | Nov 04, 2012, 07:43 PM EST

Seano- The Irish have had their tails and not much else between their legs going on 600 years now and they still whine and whine.

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seanomelb | Nov 04, 2012, 05:55 PM EST

Strongbow!! How many Israeli terrorist officers and soldiers have been found guilty of murder and destruction since 1967. They may well "shuffle" into court and they do "shuffle" out again to continue their murderous spree. Your flawed argument sounds more like an excuse rather than fact. AS for Somalia you left with your tails between your legs when the going got tough. In reference to other Arab state so what. "Get the picture"

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WoundedKnee | Nov 04, 2012, 12:08 PM EST

The Israelis should just stop killing all those people and we should stop giving them the means to do it.

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Bocktherobber | Nov 04, 2012, 11:02 AM EST

It's a standard Israeli diversionary tactic to accuse its critics of being anti-Semitic. If Browne had condemned Nigeria for corruption, it wouldn't make him a racist any more than condemning Israel for oppression makes him an anti-Semite. Don't forget, there are many Israeli Jews who condemn their government's activities. Are they also anti-Semitic?

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SeanDavie | Nov 04, 2012, 09:15 AM EST

In case you are interested, Rhuaidhri, the first crusaders (by another name)were Muslims.

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Strongbow | Nov 04, 2012, 09:14 AM EST

Rory - Your arguments are all over the place and incoherent. It seems as if you are fulminating without any foresight. The only thing that seems to be obvious in your screed is your antipathy towards the State of Israel. A country which is a beacon of hope freedom and democracy in a region devoid them. If you buy into the "Irish" perspective that the poor Palestinians are persecuted by the bad Israelis their land taken and shoved out etc. This line has particular resonance in Ireland where simplistic and false reasoning and romantic illusions hold sway in the minds of naive leftists and die-hard republicans.

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SeanDavie | Nov 04, 2012, 09:06 AM EST

Come, come, Rhuaidhri, be real. According to you, Rhuaidri, we Irish should think it was wrong for Israelis to dispossess Palestinians in 1948 but it was all very funny when first crusaders (by another name) disposed Israelis in 634 A.D.? Or when other Muslim invaders dispossess indigenous Jews, who were often there centuries or more, everywhere from Saudi Arabia to East Africa to the Magreb and over to Western India? This process is still on-going and BTW happening to indigenous Christians there and in West Africa as well. Or, maybe you still believe Muslims are not interested in forcible world dominion? If you are “thinking Irish,” Rhuaidhri, you should know that, if it was important for us Irish to reclaim the land after 800 years, and for Spanish to reclaim their land from Muslims after 900 years, it is just as important for Israelis to reclaim their land after 1200 years. BTW, some of us Irish served in refugee camps where Muslims, Christians and animists were being sheltered from, you guessed it, Muslims. And surely you must know Irish soldiers in Lebanon were also attacked by Muslims.

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Rhuaidhri | Nov 03, 2012, 11:22 PM EDT

@Strongbow and others. What you forget is that from the Irish perspective this isn't just stories from Palestinians etc. which you can palm off as partisan. Irish Forces have in Lebanon have witnessed the behaviour and indeed been subject to attacks from Israeli forces. On top of this many Irish people are involved with aid organistaions which work with the refugees and they too are first hand witness to Israeli abuses. Irish people by and large are not anti-Semitic but we do see increasinly see Israel as a terrorist state and was ill concieved construct to begin with. The killing and displacement of innocent Palestinians (who are also descendants of ancient Israel) cannot be justified by security concerns nor can it be justified as some sick kind of reparation for the Holocaust. Irish people due to their history can relate to what the Palestinians are suffering. Given modern America itself was created using similar methods to those which are occuring in Palestine now and what historically happened in Ireland it is little wonder that Americans relate more to Israelis. It would after all be Hypocrisy to condem Israel for treating Palestians like you treated Native Americans. I remain amazed at the American capacity for self deciet you guys really don't see that you were a colonial power just as bad as the British but unlike them your still at it.

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Strongbow | Nov 03, 2012, 08:18 PM EDT

There are numerous ongoing investigations into atrocities and abuses carried out by the IDF and Israeli politicians are routinely shuffling in and out of court answering charges. Seanomelb makes reference to the "murder and incarceration of Palestinian women and children and the confiscation of their land." Very emotive and provocative language indeed, but language nonetheless that is sorely lacking in veracity. His language would ring true if he were to apply this language to neighboring regimes such as those in Syria, Iran, Gaza and Hezbollah controlled Southern Lebanon not to mention Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Tunisia, Libya under Ghadafi, Sudan, Somalia (where I served with the US Military)....get the picture. Failure to get said picture points to either an ignorance of world affairs (most likely true) or an antipathy towards Israel based on an imagined and naive affinity for an underdog (also probably true).

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seanomelb | Nov 03, 2012, 07:24 PM EDT

If what you state is your position and given that you believe Israel to be a democratic state,why then have no IDF or Israeli politicians been investigated for crimes committed against the Palestinian people?? and furthermore they do not wish to be compensated for the thievery of their land they want it back,they want their olive trees back. I can only conclude you give tacit approval to the murder and incarceration of Palestinian women and children and the confiscation of their land which by the way is condemned by all European countries and the UN general assembly . As for shuvonn she needs no help from me to sort you out and I agree wholeheartedly with her.

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shuvonn | Nov 03, 2012, 01:50 PM EDT

BS I do not need to be *sorted out* least of all by you :-) As for the allegation about a Jenin funeral, I would need to see that myself rather than have YOU tell me about it without proof or verification :-) The thing you neglect to mention is they lived together peacefully BEFORE israel existed , now why do you suppose that is? This is not about the land mass ( a lame and pathetic excuse for land grabs by israel ) and jews represent less than .22% of the world population and the followers of islam represent nearly one third, and you neglect to mention the parts of other countries isrel either belligerently occupies or illegally annexed. It would appear you need a bit of sorting out yourself......

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