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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Irish peace lessons for Israel after Gaza flotilla deaths

Posted on Monday, May 31, 2010 at 09:38 PM

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What were the Israeli commandos thinking when they boarded the Gaza bound flotilla and killed ten people?

Seven Irish people,including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan were on board the flotilla. They are currently being held.

Also on board one of the vessels was a Holocaust survivor and peace activists from many different countries.

The Israelis are somehow justifying this disaster saying they were fired on.

Unfortunately this latest Israeli incursion is another example of how the far right policies being pursued by Benjamin Netanyahu have come back to haunt Israel in the worldwide community.

In one fell swoop they have destroyed their relationship with Turkey, one of their very few Islamic allies,and created a massive propaganda coup for their Hamas enemies.

Part of the problems stems from the unqualified support that American Jews give to the current government in Israel.

It is a case of 'my country right or wrong' and in this case it is very definitely wrong. There is no critical thinking going on, only blind moral support no matter what actions have been taken.

The flotilla of activists should have been shepherded to shore, their cargo unloaded and they should have been sent back to where they came from.

Instead they were attacked and ten killed in an outbreak of macho mania unmatched in recent times.

Israel appears to believe that military might solves all problems. It doesn't

American Jews are very reluctant to criticize, yet they should take a leaf from the Irish American role in securing the Irish peace process.

Back then Irish Americans questioned and debated Irish government policy towards Northern Ireland for many years.

They helped create the peace process by being the first to champion a new American approach under President Bill Clinton.

They were never patsies for the Irish government as any diplomat will tell you. Yet they played a huge role in the peace process that created the conditions for peace.

It is that kind of arms-length approach that Jewish Americans should take towards the Israeli government. Clearly there is something very wrong when a government brutally kills ten people and loses a massive propaganda war.

They need to do a lot better and American Jews need to tell them that. The Irish American example for American Jews would not be a bad place to start.

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downinthebasement | Sep 26, 2010, 12:37 AM EDT

monsoonman...I am curious what you are saying...baked a kike? Is Jesus Christ a kike? Can I call Jesus Christ a kike?

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seanomelbourne | Jun 14, 2010, 08:05 PM EDT

Moonsoonmn/shuvonn I can't go i/state for a long weekend and you to are at it like scorned lovers. Shuvonn,Moonsoonman is in denial he understands what is happening but he wishes to turn a blind eye,it helps assuage his conscience,

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maireadinmelb | Jun 14, 2010, 02:06 AM EDT

Facts and figures flying back and forth does not change the fact that the state of Israel condones and causes the deaths of innocent people (and guilty people) - they do not follow basic democratic ideology of a FAIR TRIAL, they just execute! And are quite irresponsible in how they do so. They do not attempt to minimise civilian victims. And when an army or organisation (not a country) does the same to them they complain. It works both ways and when Israel wakes up to this fact they may be able to work to a solution in their land!!

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Strongbow | Jun 12, 2010, 12:13 PM EDT

I agree that "Irish Americans" may not have been patsies for the Irish Government because they wee too busy being patsies to the provos and their ilk. Rep. Pete King was their cheerleader in chief.

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Monsoonman | Jun 12, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT

Geesh!

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shuvonn | Jun 12, 2010, 10:53 AM EDT

I think the world has NEVER been allowed to FORGET that Israel started with a 6 million handicap and it actually started in 1938 and NOT 1940 FYI. Ahh let's whip out the old antisemitism argument as a back up to the we were persecuted too argument. We had quite the handicap in Ireland too where in the 1840's the population almost halved due to starvation and emigration when food was being EXPORTED to England during that time, but that does not really count cause it was ONLY the Irish and not the jews :-) It seems its acceptable even expected to take out a few Palestinians and Muslims, sure they do not count, we can call them terrorists, label them, starve them and if anyone says anything remotely critical of the IDF and Israel you can haul out the antisemitism label.... Throw in a few rockets with phosphorous (ILLEGAL) on them and then bring in the bulldozers to finish the job in Gaza. And no cement is allowed to allow rebuilding of the destroyed homes. In fact in 2010 an Human rights Israeli group GISHA had to take the government to court to even LIST the goods that were banned. Gisha obtained an Israeli government document that states *A country has a right to decide that it chooses not to engage in economic relations or to give economic assistance to the other party to the conflict, or that it wishes to operate using 'economic warfare,* PROVING that Israel is NOT operating the ILLEGAL blockade for prevention of terrorism but to engage in collective punishment of the population of Gaza. It seems that the new laws Israel is thinking of implementing regarding anyone or any organization that engages in boycotting Israeli goods is hypocritical as its alright for israel to do it but anyone else who tries, will be punished by Israel... Aright for us, but NOT them ! HYPOCRITES.

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Monsoonman | Jun 12, 2010, 10:21 AM EDT

Wow Shuvonn: Listening to you whip out facts and figures, I feel bedazzled. But yo do understand Israel started off with a 6 million person handicap between 1940-45? So what is your favorite tune? "If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a kike?"

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shuvonn | Jun 12, 2010, 08:53 AM EDT

Interesting that you bring that up, let's be honest here, The population of Israel is double (2010 estimate) what the population of Ireland (ROI)is. And Israel has citizens from every country in the world, many if not MOST carrying dual passports, (they HAVE to because some countries do NOT recognize Israel). Starting with Operation magic Carpet, Aliyah after Aliyah from all over the world, which of course would increase their chances of having a greater chance of better facilities for research. Not to mention Israel has the MONEY, and clout, and it's pick of jewish citizens worldwide so it is hardly surprising to me but I was well aware of those numbers. And your POINT was? I will give them the credit, they are in the ME and and YET now wish to participate and trade in the Eurozone tax free, and tariff free, talk about wanting it ALL ways....

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Monsoonman | Jun 12, 2010, 12:03 AM EDT

So then I looked up Irish recipients of Nobel prizes, there was a total of ten. 5 for peace. 4 for literature. 1 for physics.

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Monsoonman | Jun 11, 2010, 10:37 PM EDT

Shuvonn Do you know how many nobel prizes for science, medicine, physics, economics, world peace, literature, chemistry were awarded to Jews over the years? 165. How many jihadis received one? 6 including yasser arafat.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 11, 2010, 07:19 PM EDT

I know monsoonman maybe it was lost in cyberspace.

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maireadinmelb | Jun 11, 2010, 06:37 PM EDT

Or when the democratic choice of the people is not recognised!!

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shuvonn | Jun 11, 2010, 12:17 PM EDT

The free flow of conversation that Israel tried to prevent by stealing members of the press's cameras, cell phones, video equipment, memory sticks etc... One cannot have a free flow of conversation when ONE side HIDES and covers up the facts....like Israel did in this screw up of the flotilla situation...

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Monsoonman | Jun 11, 2010, 09:59 AM EDT

Sean lad? I have no power to censor and i wouldn't even if I could, except for the spams of course. This hallowed ground is for the Irish from San Francisco to Galway to Point barrow to the falklands to speak amongst themselves. Nothing like a free flow of conversation.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 09, 2010, 03:42 AM EDT

on the Puente Rojas bridge near Elpaso Texas. It is claimed the child was on the Mexican side of the bridge. I looked at Fox today no mention of the incidents. O Reilly would have weaseled some words to make the child look like a terrorist as he doe's with incidents in Palestine.(Continued from previous page), but the silence was deafening.

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