Prominent Irish Voices

ICTU Calls for Boycott

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) — representing trade unions and trades councils from the whole island of Ireland — have passed two motions on Palestine that are extremely critical of the actions of the Israeli government in its oppression of the Palestinian people. The two motions condemn Israel for its human rights abuses, its policy of ethnic cleansing and its war crimes. The motions include a commitment to “actively and vigorously” promote a policy of boycott and of divestment, to make direct representations to government and to the EU, and to mobilize EU-wide trade union solidarity action. Conference also called upon ICTU to send a senior delegation to the Palestinian territories to establish solidarity links. It also welcomed the establishment by ICTU of Trade Union Friends of Palestine.

NIPSA Calls for Boycott

Northern Ireland’s biggest trade union, the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, unanimously passed all five motions on Palestinian solidarity discussed at the 2007 annual delegate conference.

These motions contained

Severe condemnation of Israel,
A commitment to boycott and divestment and
Support for Trade Union Friends of Palestine and the Enough campaign against Israeli Occupation.

Aosdana

Aosdána, the academy of artists sponsored by the Irish state, has passed the following resolution:

“Mindful of the 4th August 2006 call from Palestinian Filmmakers, Artists and Cultural workers to end all cooperation with state-sponsored Israeli cultural events and institutions, Aosdána wishes to encourage Irish artists and cultural institutions to reflect deeply before engaging in any such cooperation, always bearing in mind the undeniable courage of those Israeli artists, writers and intellectuals who oppose their own government’s illegal policies towards the Palestinians.”

(Aosdána, 28 March 2007) — see this article by a member of Aosdána

Petition ceremony at Department of Foreign Affairs, Dublin, 11 July 2006

On 11 July, the IPSC submitted, to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, a collection of petitions which demand action on the 9 July 2004 finding of the International Court of Justice regarding the Israeli wall in the West Bank.

Just before, elected representatives, from several political parties, signed petitions to be added to those brought by the IPSC. Pictured above are