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Updated 6pm
TÁNAISTE SIMON COVENEY has called on Israel to restrain from violence after 16 Palestinian people were killed in clashes with soldiers yesterday.
Coveney said he called on all involved, “especially the Israeli forces, to show the utmost restraint”.
The UN Security Council has also demanded an independent investigation into the incident.
In a statement this evening, Coveney said: “I also support the call from the UN Secretary General for an independent and transparent investigation into these incidents.
“These events highlight the urgent need for a credible, internationally-led peace process that can address the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the pathway to two states, Israel and Palestine, living together in peace and security. Ireland and the EU are ready to play a role in developing that process, together with the US and others, and planning and investing for that brighter future.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an “independent and transparent investigation” and reaffirmed “the readiness” of the world body to revitalise peace efforts, a spokesperson said.
Kuwait requested the meeting to discuss the unraveling situation in Gaza, where Palestinians said Israeli fire killed 16 people in the conflict’s deadliest single day since the 2014 Gaza war.
“There is fear that the situation might deteriorate in the coming days,” said assistant UN secretary general for political affairs, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, urging maximum restraint.
‘Expressions of regret’
Britain and the United States expressed regret that the timing of the meeting — the first night of Passover — meant Israeli officials could not attend. Leading ambassadors sent deputies in their place.
“It’s vital that this Council be balanced in its approach,” a US diplomat told the meeting. “We should have found an arrangement for all parties to participate tonight,” he added.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life today,” the diplomat added. “Bad actors who use protests as a cover to incite violence endanger innocent lives,” he added.
“The risk of escalation is very real,” the French representative said. “There is the possibility of a new conflict in the Gaza Strip.”
In a written statement before the meeting, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, blamed Hamas for the violence.
“While Jews around the world gathered with their family at the Seder table to celebrate the Passover holiday, the Palestinians sunk to a new deceitful low so that they could use the UN to spread lies about Israel,” Danon later said.
“This shameful exploitation of our holiday will not succeed in stopping us from speaking the truth about the Hamas terror-gatherings that aim to destabilize the region,” he concluded.
The violence broke out as tens of thousands of Gazans marched near the Israeli border to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees who fled or were expelled since the creation of Israel.
Tear gas and live fire
Israeli troops used tear gas and live fire to force back Palestinians who approached the heavily fortified border fence.
Israeli tank fire and an air strike also targeted three Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip after what the military said was an attempted shooting attack against soldiers along the border that caused no injuries.
The health ministry in Gaza said 16 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and more than 1,400 were injured, including 758 by live fire, with the remainder hurt by rubber bullets and tear gas.
Palestinians accused Israel of using disproportionate force. The Israeli military said the protests were used as cover by militants to either break through the border or carry out attacks.
People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett has called on the Irish government and EU to act urgently to impose sanctions on Israel following yesterday’s events.
Boyd Barrett aid any failure by the Irish government and EU leaders to immediately sanction Israel for the killing of unarmed peaceful protesters exposes “shocking hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy, given the expulsion of Russian diplomats this week for alleged involvement in the Salisbury atrocity”.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to move to recognise the State of Palestine and to expel the Israeli ambassador.
- © AFP 2018 with reporting by Christina Finn
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What’s to investigate? Israel has been oppressing these people for the past 50 years and will continue to do so. They still rightly commemorate the wrongs that were done to themselves in the past and none of us should forget that, yet they don’t seem to have a problem when they are inflicting the same terror on the Palestinians. Go figure.
@Pounamustone: Well since the zionist control the US any investigation will be fruitless.
@Pounamustone: they are not inflicting terror, the Hamas (terror org) led group went to Israel’s border looking to cause trouble.
@James Le Fleur: Are they paying you well out in Ballsbridge “James”?
@James Le Fleur: It’s a pity that Israel helped in the creation of Hamas in the first place. They ironic thing is that while Israel was giving medical aid and releasing al Qaeda backed al Nusra terrorists back into Syria, Hamas was hunting down and executing Islamic State terrorists in Gaza. You’ll never hear pro-Israeli shills telling you that though.
@James Le Fleur: were they armed. we’re shots fired from the crowd ?? no so why shoot dead 16 people
@David Cullen: Probably because their lawmakers have this sort of attitude.
http://mondoweiss.net/2017/12/lawmaker-palestinians-relatives/
Israeli lawmaker calls Palestinians visiting relatives in Israeli prison ‘beasts’ and ‘human s(um.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-deputy-defense-minister-called-palestinians-animals/ ,”…Ben Dahan said that “To me, they are like animals, they aren’t human.”
When you liken people and denigrate a people to the level that you see them as beasts or sub human it’s a lot easier to slaughter them at will. The Germans used to use the same word “untermensch” back in the day to justify their actions.
@James Le Fleur: What Nonsense! Trouble was already caused when Israel established the illegal and UN condemned border and then put snipers on it.
@James Le Fleur: idiot
@James Le Fleur: Incorrect, they went to to the border in order to protest about lands illegally taken from them by Israel .
@David Cullen: Of course they were armed, with stones and a bad attitude. Shame on Israel…again!
So did Simon actually pick up the phone and call the Israeli PM to condemn their actions or did he simply make it be known in Ireland that he condemns their actions? Big difference between words and actions Simon. Big difference.
@James Le Fleur:
Israels border??? Would that be the same border they keep extending into Palestinian territory, robbing land and homes from the indigenous people of the region as they go?
@Pounamustone: such a one sided view of things.
@James Le Fleur: you arse wipe fool of a clown
@James Le Fleur: Get real James. The reaction by the Israeli is nothing short of savage. There are a lot of savages in the Government starting with the crook at the top. It should be acknowledged that there are many fine Jews who share this view.
How many Israeli diplomats will we be sending home for this.Or a we neutral today
@matthew o reilly: all off them and sanctions
@matthew o reilly: couldnt have said it better myself
@matthew o reilly: __ You can’t send any back, they’ve all got Irish passports.
16 Palestinians shot dead by Israeli snipers. 1000 other injuries, many from bullets.
No Israelis injured.
That’s not a ‘clash’ or a ‘confrontation’. It’s simply slaughter.
@Coles: The Israeli army are better at killing than the guerrilla terrorists…who knew. Don’t start fights you can’t win.
@James Le Fleur: The Israeli army are a great force when firing against an unarmed population. Hasbara troll…
@James Le Fleur: Yeah I suppose an Israeli M1 Abrams tank up against a sheep farmer or a heavily armed gunboat up against 4 lads playing football on the beach is always going to be one sided.
@James Le Fleur: Better at killing than people throwing stones in protest. Something to be proud of James, eh? Better at killing…it’s not that long ago when the shoe was on the other foot, when there was someone else better at killing. When your best justification is that they are “better at killing” a largely innocent, dispossessed and impoverished people, that makes you worse than the worst of them.
@Coles: why do we as a Nation have diplomatic relations with a despotic country ?
@James Le Fleur:
not sure about that I recall the Israeli army got a bloody nose in Lebanon
@Coles: Funny how they aren’t named terrorist either, but “commandos”.
@Coles: they’re just smarter , violence obviously started by one side to garner further sympathy, unfortunately again Hamas have used Palestinians as canon fodder.
@James Le Fleur: stupid idiotic comment
@James Le Fleur: against unarmed civilians. It’s called murder
@James Le Fleur: Yes James. The Palestinians should lie down and welcome the odious lot trampling all over them. Of course you have demonstrated many times you would be one of those doing the trampling.
Must have received crowd control training from the British Army.
If yoh attack the borders of a sovereign state you can expect to meet lethal force, especially if you have been sent by a globally recognised terror organisation like Hamas.
@James Le Fleur: especially if you have a history of using children as suicide bombers
@James Le Fleur: Interesting point. You might have a point if you are talking about the actual borders of a sovereign state.
@James Le Fleur: Do you really believe that??? Firing indiscriminately at crowds of people really can’t be justified in any way what’s so ever. Look into your conscience and see if your reaction is not motivated by a fear or a racist and prejudicial view point. This is not a sustainable way for Israel to exist with its neighbours.
@James very good point given Israel continues to ignore Internationally recognised borders under the Geneva convention. So seems israel itself has no regard for internationally recognised sovereign borders!
@James Le Fleur: Hasbara troll. Israel shamed themselves yesterday. No excuse whatsoever for this mass slaughter of unarmed, peaceful protesters. You are an apologist for mass murder. Shame on you, whoever you are..
@James Le Fleur: Theocratic Islamic State is on it’s knees but Theocratic Zionist State is more dangerous and is still murdering at will. Time for it to go also.
@James Le Fleur: Borders of a sovereign state my butt, that land now illegally occupied by Israel was taken by force from the Palestinian people first day…
@James Le Fleur: you are bang on
@James Le Fleur: where is the internationally recognised border ? Israel has stolen this land
@Chris Jordan: In a crowd control situation if weapons are going to be taken by a hostile crowd weapons defend weapons.
@Denis McClean: You should join Hamas, you sound like you’d fit right in.
@Charles Coughlan: Israel was founded by the UN, along with a Palestinian state. Israel only pushed past the 47 borders in the process of defending itself from attack from its neighbors. Is Australia currently illegally occupied territory given that it was actually stolen from its original inhabitants (who were either killed or herded onto reserves)? Or does the term illegal occupation apply where Jews are involved
@Damon16: Israel was not founded by the UN; rather it was a self declared State in 1948. It’s self declaration as a state came some months after Zionist Jews ethnically cleansed some 500 villages of their inhabitants by murder and fear, prompting military intervention by Arab neighbours to end the genocide. The only UN input, contrary to your lies, was a non-binding resolution, a recommendation that the land be divided between Zionist Jews and indigenous Palestinians; this was rejected by both sides; Zionist Jews wanted more, and the Palestinians didn’t want to give up their country to colonising foreigners.
@Pat O’Brien: Can’t you see James would happily be one of the Jewish terrorists firing the guns?
Israel has every right to defend it’s self and we all know what Hamas is but their level of force is way beyond what any other country in the world would be able to get away with,they are using special forces sipners to shoot people throwing stones and tanks blowing people up cause they are acting “suspicious “at the fence,any other country in the world did that there would be sanctions and all sorts of carry on
@Warren Mcdermott: people acting suspicious around the fence are likely treated as so because they are participating in a hostile and violent march organised by a terrorist organisation. There is no time to sort good from bad when your border is under siege.
@james and your proof of this ‘violent’ march is ???? How many Israelis were injured/killed by this’ violence’?
@James Le Fleur: Easy way to discredit what this hasbara troll is saying is to look at the actual killings caught on camera. They murdered a man at prayer, they murdered a child running AWAY from the border. This is on camera, there for all to see. Thankful for Social Media, Israel’s lies are laid bare once more. Despite what hasbara trolls may want you to believe. This was not a clash of equals, this was mass murder on a peaceful protest. Check out the videos for the real story. The truth is easy to see…
@James Le Fleur: so blowing people up with a tank is ok by u then?when people like u stopping defending Israel for murdering people their will never be any peace here yes we know what Hamas are and how they go on but Israel are doing the same thing did any of them cross the border?
@James Le Fleur: you should put that shovel down now
@Warren Mcdermott: just how does “Israel having every right to defend itself” equate with soldiers gassing and shooting dead unarmed protestors?
Have another look at the photograph above showing Israeli army snipers lined up on the hilltop so they can shoot unarmed Palestinian protesters.
So Leo is it time to call in the Israeli ambassador to ask him to stop the killing of unarmed Palestinian protesters?
Israel lives in a very dangerous neighbourhood….On two of its borders Lebonan and Syria Iran has a proxy army Hezbollah getting ready for war…….If the border with Gaza had being breached then there are literally hundreds of young men and woman….wanting to become martyers trying to kill Jews in Israel…..
@Johnny Merren: It’s time to expel Israeli diplomats or maybe Leo should ask Britain first to see if it’s OK by them.
@pc_comments: When foreign colonists over ran Ireland during the Plantations, stole the land and drove the native Irish from their homes into internal exile do you think the Irish had the right to fight back?
@pc_comments: Most of the Jews in isreal support the Palestinian right for equality and peaceful co-existence. It’s the Zionist Atheists that are the problem. They need to go back to the Bronx and Eastern Europe where they came from.
@pc_comments: Israel is a very dangerous country
@Denis McClean: It’s a nice, but untrue, notion to think that Zionist Jews want equality for Palestinians; they don’t. This ‘Economist’ extract illustrates: ‘The government wants a law that would deny equality to Arabs. A bill approved by the cabinet seeks to define Israel as the “national state of the Jewish people”, enhance the role of Jewish law (which gives Jews preferential rights) in Israeli legislation and limits rights for non-Jewish citizens to “individual rights, (denying Arabs “national” rights as a minority). Furthermore, The Law of Return grants citizenship to Jewish migrants whereas Palestinians forcibly exiled in 1948 are banned from returning.’
Sounds just like what happened in Derry on bloody Sunday all those years ago
@Tom Ryan: Oh dear ! what’s Arabic for ,chucky our law
The Hasbara will be out in force for this article.
@Niallers: Fantasist.
@Niallers:
The Pallywood propaganda merchants are certainly out in force this morning.
@Sebastian Wilson: as a Hasbara pseudo name, considering you’re in Ireland, could you not have chosen a name other than Sebastian? How many ‘Sebastians’ are there around, would you think.?
It’s nice to see Hamas get their civilians to attempt to break through the border. All those tunnels aren’t working, the infiltration attacks are being thwarted, and now Hamas decide to throw their own people at the IDF. I saw a lot of peaceful protestors. I saw a lot of sling shots, petrol bombs and more worryingly I saw lads dropping a 7 year old girl over the fence. I saw one of Hamas’ top guys walking around holding a toddler tightly to him. I read that Hamas reiterated that they will never recognise Israel. What you are watching is the sacrifice of people as a way to avoiding negotiations that might copperfasten a 2 state solution. What you are reading in many of these comments is tacit approval of this policy by Hamas.
@Honeybadger197: If someone stole your land and drove you from your home would you stand idly by or would you fight back?
@No One: Gaza was part of Egypt when Israel captured it in 1967…Before that part of Ottoman empire ..In 2005 Israel left Gaza and expelled all the settlers….Land is not occupied by Israel….Israel would love to give Gaza back to Egypt….
@Honeybadger197: Hamas are disgusting as everyone knows or should know, but it’s not hard for them to ‘avoid’ negotiations on a two-state solution when Israel seem to be determined to scupper these negotiations themselves by eating up territory and ‘defending’ these so-called ‘borders’.
Two sides at fault here. The violent response from Hamas is unacceptable. But it’s very dishonest to portray a scenario where Hamas are the ones standing in the way of true peace.
That’s the narrative the Israeli government would like to push, but in reality their actions betray the fact that they have no intention of committing to meaningful negotiation on the issue.
@ihcalaM: The Israelis wanted Hamas to cede control to the PA, declare they recognised Israel and disarm. Not a million miles from our own peace process, no?
@ihcalaM: Honeybadger is an avid supporter of the abuser in this abuser–abused relationship. He (?) is an outspoken critic of Provo violence (as am I)—how long would it have taken the Provos to kill 495 children and 253 women, as the Israelis did in Gaza in a couple of months in 2014?
@Honeybadger197: I don’t recall British settlements being built illegally in order not-so-subtly annex territory in the Republic during our peace process. You don’t think that would’ve hampered the work of Hume et. al?
The Israeli government still refuse to accept that the illegal settlement building is an obstacle to peace in the region, something even some very conservative US Presidents have recognised (it’s pretty obvious).
Seeing as the Israelis are the ones claiming they want peace, why are they so determined to obfuscate about their part in wrecking the prospect of a two-state solution?
@ihcalaM: If the British had behaved analogously to the Israelis during the Troubles, they would reduced Dundalk to rubble and killed virtually everyone in it—and that would have been just the start.
And it would all have been the fault of the Irish, of course.
@ihcalaM: And the Israelis aren’t interested in any solution: they are happy to slap the Palestinians down with extreme bloodshed every few years, with the support of the US government.
@Honeybadger197: I’m not talking just about Gaza I am talking about Palestinian lands stolen by Jewish colonists who then went on to herd the natives in to refugee camps and places like Gaza. There are people living in Gaza who had land only a few miles away stolen from them and who now want it back. You still haven’t my question though. Would you fight for land stolen from you or would you just sit back and take it lying down?
@pc_comments: And moral people around the world would like Israel given back to Palestinians. There has been nothing but wars in the Middle East since Zionism was given a home.
@Honeybadger197: [moron]
@ihcalaM: Perhaps you might explain why Area C in the West Bank is your go to point when discussing the Gaza border? You mentioned it yesterday too when i was discussing Gaza. Should i point to Gaza next time Area C gets an article?
@Brendan O’Brien: That’s demonstrably untrue and a completely false analogy. If Dundalk was being used as a launch site for indiscriminate rocket & mortar launches, if terrorists from Dundalk were infiltrating the North to carry out suicide attacks, and if terrorists from Dundalk were tunnelling into population centres in Newry to attempt to kill civilians, you still wouldn’t have a point. The IDF hasnt “virtually killed everyone” in Gaza and it certainly hasn’t been reduced to rubble. Your hyperbole is boringly familiar in the myopic comments here. Get a grip.
@Honeybadger197: Hyperbole? Do you dispute the fact that the IDF killed 495 children and 253 women in Gaza in a couple of months in 2014?
You are defending the indefensible. Shame on you.
@Honeybadger197: And my analogy is not false. The Israeli mindset would have blamed the Republic for allowing terrorists to base themselves in it in order to attack targets in the North, and would have reacted as it always reacts: with extreme and indiscriminate violence. In fact it would have attacked Dublin.
@Honeybadger197: Aren’t you even going to pay lip service to the value of those 495 children’s lives?
I know that you will blame anyone except the people who actually killed them.
@Brendan O’Brien: Thoes are U.N. figures and the U.N. gets its numbers from Hamas. There is no independent authority in Gaza which compiles thoes numbers….There is at least a possibility that HAMAS would exaggerate the figures….
@Brendan O’Brien: When have i disputed the women and children killed in 2014? What I’ve questioned is yours ( and others) apparent absolution of Hamas. Israel did not act unilaterally in 2014. No country would allow indiscriminate rocket/ mortar attacks go unanswered. What we are seeing is an acknowledgement that rockets/ mortars/ suicide bombers/ tunnels aren’t working against Israel, so now they’ll throw their civilians at the border fence knowing Israel will not tolerate any attempts to breach it. Amazing what some people are prepared to overlook.
@Honeybadger197: ‘Amazing what some people are prepared to overlook.’
Absolutely. You are completely and utterly unwilling to condemn the killing of large numbers of women and children, which is a real shame and frankly quite disgusting.
Are you aware that the Israelis shot hundreds of people yesterday, apparently with no casualties on their own side?
‘Friday’s death toll stood at 16 and included a farmer killed by an Israeli tank shell before dawn as he picked parsley near the border, according to the health ministry. An Israeli army spokesman said the man was operating suspiciously.’
@Brendan O’Brien: I’m not surprised you missed my calling their deaths an absolute tragedy yesterday – moreso because it was avoidable. If you ignore the root cause of their deaths, Hamas ( amongst a long line of radical jihadist groups) have decided that others lives are worthless in the pursuit of Israels destruction. You seem happy to overlook the placing of launch sites amongst homes, schools, hospitals, playgrounds, beside (and in) UN facilities in Gaza. Will i link you to measures that Israel deploy to try to mitigate civilian casualties? Hamas employ human shields precisely because they are successful at stopping relatiation. Not always but enough to have convinced Hamas to keep using them. When it fails they put the victims bodies in front of the cameras and act outraged.
@Brendan O’Brien: With respect to the lack of Israeli casualties yesterday, how many dead or injured Israelis soldiers would keep you happy? How many deaths on both sides would you predict if that fence is breached? Why is the fence there in the first place?
@Honeybadger197:
Most people (except you) would be happy if there were no deaths whatsoever. Every single time Israel kills Palestinians you gloat about it. Disgusting.
@Honeybadger197: A massacre is not a ‘tragedy’. Still you refuse to blame or criticize the killers of hundreds of women and children in Gaza in 2014. Nothing but the same old weasel words, over and over. You are a disgrace: much worse than those who defend terrorists in Northern Ireland, because the scale of that terrorism was so much smaller.
You must believe that Palestinians are subhuman: I can see no other possible reason for your continuing defence of the indefensible here.
I am done.
@Coles: You really dont bring much to any discussion do you Cole? Please identify where I’ve gloated about any deaths ever. Your deliberate lies are disgusting. Your apparent inability to debate any issue is not unsurprising however.
@Brendan O’Brien: tragedy: ‘an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe’.
I see no issue with my use of the word. The rest of your comment is your own incorrect speculation and not really worth a minute of my time. Enjoy the long weekend.
@Honeybadger197: “You mentioned it yesterday too when i was discussing Gaza.”
Come on now. Let’s not pretend we’re talking about completely different things. If there is to be lasting peace, it will involve Gaza and the West Bank. Land grabbing in Area C/East Jerusalem/wherever else won’t be conducive to a bilateral agreement/TSS.
Most importantly, Israeli actions in the West Bank tell everyone that they aren’t serious about peace. They aren’t serious about upholding international agreements. If I were in Gaza, I would look at Israeli behaviour in Area C and I would see an adversary that does not want to make a serious attempt at conflict resolution, I would see an adversary obsessed with territorial expansion.
There’s no sense in divorcing the two situations. It’s the same Israeli government in both cases. The PA or whoever else know exactly who they’re dealing with when they see land-grabbing. All I’m saying is that if Israel was serious about finding a path to peaceful co-existence, they wouldn’t be doing what they currently are in Area C. Why don’t they cease this behaviour immediately – and how can you tell us Hamas are the only obstacle to peace with a straight face?
@Honeybadger197: Ask your Israeli friends to allow Christians to attend Easter services. They have blocked requests to this. I make a distinction between the ancient Jewish faith and the brutal Israeli Settler state- which is aboherrent. (not the Jewish religion)
@ihcalaM: As far as this article is concerned we are. I believe, if you’re the same Malachy I’ve discussed things with before, I’ve agreed that the settlements in Area C are a major obstacle to lasting peace. I can also understand why people of the Jewish faith place great importance on Judea & Samaria though. Thats why the 94% of the West Bank offer made years ago was incredible and unlikely to be repeated any time soon unfortunately.
@hallelujah: They haven’t blocked all Christians from Gaza though. They have restricted those between 16-55 years of age, citing security & visa overstaying violations. (They usually relax entry into Israel at this time but with tensions so high they havent this year.)
@Honeybadger197: Most people, including myself, would agree that Arafat should’ve accepted the 94% offer. It was by no means perfect, though, as it still involved an unfair trade in terms of the land annexed by Israel compared to what they were prepared to give up (about 2 to 1 in Israel’s favour), which is presumably why Arafat rejected it. He didn’t have any intention to compromise – in a way he was justified (why should they cede this territory?) but in the grand scheme of things it would’ve been worth it, especially considering the current state of affairs.
Now, just because that deal fell apart doesn’t give Israel the right to just flip over the table and continue annexing territory. You would accept that, I presume.
It’s not fair to say, in essence, ‘we offered you a pretty good deal in 2000, you rejected it, therefore we’re assuming you don’t want peace so we’ll take your land thank you very much’. That’s just prolonging the misery of the entire situation.
My point – you said in your original comment that Hamas were just trying to avoid negotiations that could result in a TSS. I think we both know that the extremists on both sides have the power here, and it’s certainly not just Hamas avoiding Israeli diplomacy as you seem to imply. Widespread settlement building and territorial warfare on the part of the Israeli government are pretty definite indicators that they do not intend to settle for a two-state solution any time soon (which would involve all Palestinian territories, meaning the West Bank is inextricably linked to the fate of Gaza), barring a major shift in the makeup of the Knesset.
“I can also understand why people of the Jewish faith place great importance on Judea & Samaria though.”
With all due respect, their religious beliefs do not give them any justification to steal land. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Saddam Hussein and his fellow Ba’athists placed a lot of importance on Kuwait and strongly believed, with just as much fervour, that the land was theirs to take. Did that mean the annexation and assimilation of Kuwait into Iraqi territory, without the consent of Kuwaitis, was justified? Belief, religious or not, shouldn’t be part of the discussion, there are people with strong beliefs on all sides. It’s a matter of law.
@Brendan O’Brien:
Slight exaggeration. PIRA used the same tactics as Hamas – sacrificing women and children.
@Honeybadger197: Palestinians want to return to their homes, in their land, from which you people ethnically cleansed them in what was the most violent post war crime against humanity at the time. Hamas has long been calling for a two-state settlement in accord with the international consensus and the AIPAC-owned US and Israel have been constantly blocking it for decades. By Netanyahu’s own statements, he only paid lip service to the Oslo Accords, and immediately went on to disrupt the peace agreements and aggress further on the Palestinians with a view to destroying their leadership and to inflict pain and punishment. Perhaps, you should refrain from parroting the Hasbara Script because even Hasbara, nowadays, consider it an embarrassing narrative of cliches and sound bites.
@Honeybadger197: The palestinian state is a false one also as they are all jordanian refugees at the end of the day. And those that claim its a peaceful protest are blinkered. If thousands of these people show up at a border and try to gain entry by any means possible well then israel has the right to defend its country and what peaceful protest has petrol bombs slingshots and numerous other weapons that the shinners wont show you in this country
Long live the state of Israel
@Coles: Thats complete horse shite
And the butchery of innocents continues as the world stands idly by. Another proud day for israel.
The UN seeks an investigation?? Look at the pictures/videos and read what’s been reported! Killed.. in clashes?? It was a peaceful, symbolic march to the illegal Israeli border! The UN needs to act now, no more of their usual soundbites, they’re worthless! This shambolic Irish government under the supposed leadership of Leo Varadkar are an absolute disgrace to this country, grow a pair & condemn Israel! Close the slaughterhouse HQ which is the Israeli embassy in Dublin now! Israel continues to murder innocent men, women & children in their hundreds, they’re not welcome in this country! They are the one’s that should be evicted and expelled! This government needs to go…. spineless, inept, leaderless and an abhorrent disgrace to all that strive for equality, peace and justice….. for all!
“The risk of escalation is very real,” the French representative said. “There is the possibility of a new conflict in the Gaza Strip.”
Well, this is Hamas we’re talking about here.
@Sebastian Wilson: Yeah I mean the guy in a wheelchair who was murdered by the IDF in December posed a very real threat to the heavily armed storm troopers that he was protesting against. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5183539/Palestinian-suicide-belt-shot-knifing-soldier.html
Also when you see an IDF soldier murdering an unarmed man in cold blood you only give him a few months more of a sentence than the girl who slapped an IDF soldier because his buddies shot her cousin in the head at point blank range.
@No One:
I understand your selective outrage.
@Sebastian Wilson: I have to be selective otherwise if I listed every single murder of Palestinian men, women and children since the colonisation of Palestine it would be a verrrrrrrry long comment. I could list Israeli deaths as well but it would be a lot shorter seeing as there is an 9.5:1 ratio between Palestinian and Israeli deaths.
@No One:
Sure you could list all the Israeli civilians murdered by Palestinians ………then sing and dance in the street about it.
@Sebastian Wilson: Selective justification.
@Sebastian Wilson: would that be the same dance your guys were caught doing after 9/11 by any chance?
Important to remember also that Hamas have been accused of war crimes by the UN.
@Sebastian Wilson: important to note so has Israel
@matthew o reilly: Don’t worry the U.N. won’t forget Israel…20 U.N. resolutions against Israel last year…Several sponsored by Saudi Arabia….
@pc_comments: Are they not new bff’s in their proxy war agains Iran
Varadkar must take action.
@F. Wood: Why !,because we have the shinners and the looney left, jew haters, jumping up and down
@Robert Harris: Most of these looney left are Christians. Why does Israel persecute Christians? Given the Jewish people’s history. It seems like the Israeli’s would like to follow the example of the Scribes and Pharissees and High priest. And crucify the Palestinians like they did Jesus.
@hallelujah: 126 Christians killed in Egypt last year and many church’s blown up,I’d be amazed if there was one Christian, living under Hamas controlled Gaza
@hallelujah: Looney left are followers of different Jewish Messiah Karl Marx…..
@Robert Harris: Jew haters, give me a break you idiot, it’s the Israeli state not the jewish people that are at fault here and it’s that very state that are committing murder, continuously, while idiots like you defend the silence and inaction of countless governments against Israel.
@Niall Binéad: You called me an idiot twice, and you say you are not a hater
@Robert Harris: And for the third time….. you’re an idiot. Don’t make out commentators on this article about the Israeli murderers are all jew haters, as you put it. The fact is, Israel are committing mass murder against the Palestinian people and they should be rightly condemned, ostracised and that fact advertised by all. For you to pull out the ‘Jew Hater’ card is idiotic.
This is the type of butchery less prominent Jewish organisations both in Israel and world wide have been warning about with the continued rise of Haredi and Shas Party influence in Israeli politics. They won’t be happy until they’ve turned Israel into a 12th century version of the Vatican sending troops out to massacre anyone they see as opposed to their interpretation of Judaism.Israel at the moment is as divided as the west along right-left lines and unfortunately the more moderates are losing to the ultra religious whackadoodles who’d have no problem with their own “final solution” being implemented against the Palestinian people… The irony in all of it is that the Haredi and Shas Party are fighting desperately for exemption from military service..
Looking at that photograph it’s like something you would see on an army firing range, pretty much using the Palestinians as target practice….
Hasbara posters will have you believe it was the Palestinians that were armed and they must have shot themselves.
That’s what Hasbara was set up for to issue fake news
@Johnny Merren:
Lot of material for Pallywood directors to work with there.
Simon show the world now how Ireland won’t stand idly by while one country murders innocent civilians without due reason or cause, show the world how Ireland holds the same standards of morals as events in Salisbury unfolded, make a statement to the world that sniper fire, tank shells and fighter jets are an excessive response to kids burning tyres and throwing stones. Make a stand for Justice, Life and Equality.
@Martin Connolly: It wouldn’t take the right wing Israeli media ten seconds to drag out pictures of FG’s dubious fascist past and drag the Irish peoples name through the dirt for electing them. You’re dealing with a very intelligent version of the US religious right wing.The religious right in Israel are extremely dangerous to mess with and they wouldn’t think twice about things like influencing US economic policy towards Ireland if the mood took them.A smarter idea would be to establish links with more moderate groups in Israel such as the Labour Party(Rabins party) who’s official policy includes a two state solution. That way we could point to the friends we have in Israel while admonishing the likes of Likud and Shas.
@Vigo the Carpathian: Israeli Labour party were behind Gaza war in 2014….They may well want to stop West bank settlements….However when it comes to security issues they back government and Likud line….In 2005 Gaza was meant to be a Palestinian state Singapore of the Middel East…Instead HAMAS have policy of attacking Isreal with rockets and tunnels….
@pc_comments: Oh I understand it’s a lot more complicated than simply Israel vs Palestine but what I’m saying is that before we jump in with both feet and antagonise the far right there we’d better have some diplomatic cover from the inevitable blow back… Israel has a lot of mucky little fingers in a lot of mucky little pies around the world and would think nothing about making life difficult for us. You don’t honestly think their decision to use Irish passports while carrying out an assassination was random do you ? It was a message that we’re very much on their radar and a warning to stay out of their affairs..
The Israeli govt stopped Palestinian Christians from attending Easter services. And yet the Trump/Pence junta call themselves Christian. And US protestants believe them?
@hallelujah: Restrict, not stopped. Facts help. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israel-to-restrict-entry-of-gaza-christians-for-easter/2018/03/29/2b5871aa-3375-11e8-b6bd-0084a1666987_story.html
The journal is spreading lies. Palestinian was shot while kneeling and praying. They are no better than the Nazis.
I respect the ancient and beautiful Jewish religion. Shalom. I don’t respect the brutal Israeli settler movement and it’s gangster tactics.
Never forget the state of Israel has murdered many, many innocents including Irish peacekeepers not least of which is an soldier still missing in action Caomhán Seoighe (Private Kevin Joyce). They have also pirated an Irish civil registered ship, flying the Irish tricolour, and sailing in international waters as well as feeling that it was okay to forge Irish passports for use by Mossad. Their embassy should be ran out of Ireland for their total disrespect for our country and for their continuous flouting of international law and their constant and consistent inhumane treatment of a desperate, unarmed and impoverished people (sounds familiar) and playing the Zionist card when anyone dares to criticize them. For a people who were so brutalized and treated so inhumanely themselves in the recent past they do not seem to have learned much from the ordeal.
No solidarity with the Palestinians lads. No summoning off the Israeli ambassador
So far 10 of those shot have been identified as known Hamas terrorists which given the amount of civilians being sent to the lines by Hamas is very good restrained marksmanship from the IDF. The sole responsibility for any deaths lies with Hamas.
@Richard Keogh: Israeli embassy handout material ‘Richard’? The world saw the Israeli army wounding hundreds of non-Jews and killing 16.
@Niall Conneely: Nope. The Times of Israel published it earlier.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-at-least-10-of-the-16-killed-at-gaza-border-were-members-of-terror-groups/
@Honeybadger197: The Times of Israel!!!
Why not take your feed from RT? Very different perspective. Or any of several non-Western English language media outlets.
And what will the UN do then
It is clearly Hamas doing this, why are people so blind from the truth in Ireland? Every other country is reporting the Hamas orchestrated violence, that Hamas sent a 7 year old kid … but Irish news ignores this. Shocking! Israels army are heavy handed assh*les but not as bad as hamas.
@Dean Sanders: ‘Dean’ an employee of the Israeli embassy? Are you saying that the Israelis killed the seven year old? Reports say that the youngest they killed was 16.
@Niall Conneely: He’s saying the Palestinian agitators thought sending a 7 year old girl into an area of violent protest, with sling shot stones, petrol bombs, rubber bullets, and live fire was a good idea. Curiously, this doesnt bother you. (The IDF brought the young girl to safety)
@Niall Conneely: an employee of the israel embassy? Ye dope, what are you talking about? Anyway, hamas!
@Dean Sanders: “Every other country is reporting the Hamas orchestrated violence”
Manifest lie….not unless you count the US, many EU countries and a few puppet states as “every other country”.
Most of the world does NOT classify Hamas as a “terrorist” organisation.
@Dessie Deratta: well they are, end of
Shouldn’t be getting involved in the barbarism between these two peoples. Best to keep our noses away from foreign conflict.
Kick the Israel diplomats out of our state. But we won’t because the brits have no problem with the Jews
@Padraig Leahy: I’ve no problem with the Jews either, and what has Britain got to to with us anymore? As much as I agree with what you’re saying, you just sound anti semetic and bitter towards the British, rather than getting the point across that you intended
@Padraig Leahy: Jew hater !
No point in calling on either side out there to exercise restraint. The reality is there is a total absence of trust. Trump relocating the Embassy to Jerusalem only added fuel to the fire. Realistically if the Arab countries thought they could militarily defeat Israel they would launch an attack. Israel has to be permanently on military alert. While not favoring either side the only thing to say is the problem is intractable. Unfortunately each side knows the other only too well.
Israel’s Sharpville. Many of these non-Jews confined in the Gaza ghetto can see their family farms through the fence in what is now Israel
Oh?
Show restraint?
That should tell them
To criticise Israeli Attack Forces for slaughtering men; women and children, is to be anti-Semitic don’t you know?
Can’t wait to see Ian Doherty defend this one
Banish Israeli diplomats! Have we any balls at all!
Another crusade to the holy land…
Coveney you absolute moron! The devil state of Israel murdered 16 people and injured hundreds more and you call for them to show restraint! It’s simple, expel the Israeli embassador to this country, close their embassy shut and then stand behind a boycott of anything and everything that is of Israeli origin….. now that will probably upset them more than all the worthless, unsincere sh#t that you and this government spout on a daily basis!
@Niall Binéad: You know what is ironic about this. Despite the Israeli murders of Irish peacekeepers the Irish Government still buys from Israel. Small arms ammunition, gas masks, soldiers helmets, drones and who knows what else. The Department of Defence only understands, cheap and cheaper. They have no principles and would happily buy off of any war crimes suspect as long as they are one cent a unit cheaper. No morals, no principles, no shame. Just the bottom line.
Any chance he expel Israeli diplomats for their continued murder of unarmed children
I can’t believe the un would sit back and let this happen again.over a thousand people wounded and people killed .its not new happening regardless of it being Passover which is meant to be peaceful time
Maybe Lord Coveney should expel some of Israel’s diplomats?
Why do we have diplomatic relations with this vile state ?. As Irish it is in our DNA to abhor what that state is doing
How many Palestinians lives are worth the life of a Russia Spy 100, 1000, 10,000 and how many Palestinians death would it take for the Irish Government to expell a Isreali diplomat.?
The Whole World is going to listen to Coveney’s Words of
Wisdom.
Strange that Israeli govt always seem to act the bully boy around Easter time. I also blame the Egyptian govt for this problem. Remember what happened in Jerusalem 2000 years ago this weekend.
@hallelujah: There’s a theory that one of the reasons for so much aggression in that region is a lack of zinc in the traditional diets of both Muslim’s and Jews which makes people belligerent..Marmite is the cure apparently. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/de-bonos-marmite-plan-for-peace-in-middle-yeast-740189.html
have your say