IRISH ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT - Press Release – Monday 29th December

national | anti-war / imperialism | press release Monday December 29, 2008 15:06 by Richard Boyd Barrett - Irish Anti-War Movement

- DEMONSTRATION AT ISRAELI EMBASSY TODAY TO PROTEST ISRAEL’S MUDEROUS ATTACKS ON GAZA
-CALLS ON IRISH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CONCRETE STEPS TO ISOLATE ISRAEL

A demonstration will take place today - Monday 29th December - at 5pm outside the Israeli Embassy in Ballsbridge to demand an end to Israel’s murderous assault on on the Gaza strip, which has now claimed over 300 Palestinian lives and resulted in over 800 injuries in just two days.

The protest has been called by the Irish Anti-War Movement, the Palestinian Community and the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, following a protest yesterday on Dublin's O Connnell St, which saw hundreds of people take to the streets.

While the IAWM has welcomed the statement of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin, condemning the Israeli attacks, it said that Israel’s consistent and flagrant breaches of international law required the Irish government to take more concrete steps to isolate Israel.

Yesterday the IAWM called on the Irish government to break diplomatic relations with Israel and to use it's influence in Europe to call for a suspension of the EU EuroMed Asociation agreement, which gives preferential trading terms to Israel.

Richard Boyd Barrett, chairperson of the IAWM, speaking at yesterday's protest in Dublin said:

“This muderous and criminal assault on Gaza is Israel's Christmas and New year message to the world. When much of the rest of the world is celebrating ideas of universal brotherhood and expressing hopes for a peaceful new year, Israel has chosen to massacare hundreds of innocent Palestinian civilians in an effort to crush Palestinian resistance to occupation and the brutal siege of Gaza.

Israel’s claim that its massive bombing and missile attacks in civilian areas are only aimed at militants or “terrorists” or that they represent a justified response to rocket attacks in southern Israel are outrageous.

Over 300 Palestinians, most of them civilians, some of them children, have been killed since Israel began its assault on Gaza. Hundreds more have been injured.In contrast there has been one Israeli fatality as a result of the rocket attacks from Gaza into Southern Israel.

The proper context for understanding the current crisis, is that Israel has imposed a two-year long siege and blockade of Gaza preventing medical, food and other humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip. The Israeli blockade has resulted in large numbers of Palestinians dying because of lack of medical supplies and proper nutrition.

This blockade is contrary to all international law and has amounted to a brutal collective punishment of the entire civilian population of Gaza because of a decision to elect Hamas in a fully democratic election.

The International community – led by the US and the EU – have actively encouraged Israel in its criminal and murderous actions by refusing to recognise the government democratically elected by the Palestinian people.Disgracefully, Israel continues to be rewarded for its criminal activity in terms of military aid from the US and upgraded trade and political relations with the EU.

While Michael Martin’s statement condemning the Israeli attacks is to be welcomed - words are not enough. Israel is consistently and flagrantly operating outside international law in terms of its denial of human rights for Palestinians and brutal occupation of their land. Its crimes are as bad and worse as those of Apartheid South Africa and it must be isolated, politically, diplomatically and economically, in the same way.

The Irish government should lead the way by breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel and demanding that the EU cease giving preferential treatment to Israel. It is simply incredible, against the background of the blockade of Gaza and now this savage assault, that relations with Israel were recently upgraded through the EuroMed Association agreement. This agreement should be suspended immediately and the Irish government should take the lead in the EU in calling for that to happen.”

The Irish Anti-War Movement also expressed disapointment that US President elect, Barack Obama, had failed to make a statement condemning the Israeli assualt on Gaza. Today's protest will also march to the US Embassy calling on the US to end its unconitional and uncritical support for Israel.

For more info/confirmation contact

Richard Boyd Barrett 087-6329511