The Irish Communist Party/Páirtí Cumannach Éireann adds its voice to the condemnation of the NI Education Minister Paul Givan and other Unionist politicians for their appalling decision to accept an invitation to visit Israel from a government led by a man for whom an international arrest warrant has been issued for alleged war crimes.
For the Education Minister and members of DUP / UUP and TUV to stand posing for selfies on a yacht just miles away from Gaza where the entire education infrastructure has been destroyed, 20,000 children have been murdered and a further approximated 10,000 children lie dead under the rubble at the hands of those who hosted them must surely be one of the most self-consciously provocative acts of Unionism in recent years.
Not only have they been tone deaf to the concerns of ordinary citizens regarding the inappropriateness of such a visit but have mocked (in the Minister’s case at least) these reactions treating their visit as some grand points scoring sectarian game. In addition, by visiting a school in East Jerusalem on land illegally occupied by Israel they have also treated international law with contempt.
Instead of attempting to understand people’s genuine issues including the question of using resources of the department of education to promote the visit, they have instead, in predictable fashion, gone on the attack blaming all on some bogey man ‘pan republican front’. People’s genuine concerns are brushed aside as ‘faux outrage’ and a witch hunt.
The Irish Communist Party/Páirtí Cumannach Éireann supports the vote of no confidence in the NI Assembly while recognising the limitations of this approach in the context of current power sharing arrangements we support it nevertheless. A line must be drawn.
The apparent inability of Unionist politicians to have any empathy for the horrors inflicted on the people of Palestine including their alleged brothers and sisters of the Christian faith proves once again they have nothing to offer. Are those who wilfully ignore genocide and the slaughter of civilians to suit their narrow sectarian outlook really fit for any type of public office? The answer must be no.
Now a second invitation to Paul Givan has been issued by the Israelis, this time for an official visit to attend a conference. This represents an escalation by the Zionist regime and a further opportunity for him to act as agent provocateur. It would be an outrage if he went. It also takes the issue to a new level and we call on the British government to intervene and warn him that he would be in contravention of Foreign Office guidelines in accepting such an invitation.
By their visit to Israel the Unionist parties have collectively scraped the bottom of the barrel. A further bout of provocation will gain them nothing and merely remind the majority here that their role is to govern Northern Ireland in the interest of all who live here.
The parallels between Unionism and Zionism can be framed as expressions of settler colonialism and imperialism seeking to displace the indigenous population and establish a new political and social order, hence why the Unionist parties participate in these kinds of disgusting visits.
As ever they lack any ability to see themselves as others see them and ironically as they strut their ever smaller stage they may well be hastening the demise of Unionism as more people are disillusioned and appalled by their actions, moving us quicker to the changed constitutional reality of their worst nightmares.
The Irish Communist Party/Páirtí Cumannach Éireann reiterates our condemnation and opposition to any future visits to Israel by Unionist politicians.