Israel has invaded yet another country, murdering nearly a thousand people in Lebanon. It has wrecked devastation on the people of Gaza and now threatens the same in South Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Force says it is about to stage another ground invasion.
Nobody should be in any doubt about what this means. In one of its previous invasions in 1982, Israel worked with Lebanese fascists to organize the murder of Palestinians in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. While Israeli forces surrounded the camp, death squads moved in to murder an estimated 3,000 Palestinians and Lebanese Shia.
Nobody should listen to the pathetic excuses of the Israeli leaders. They claim that Hezbollah has driven Israelis from their homes. But the truth is that Israel has fired eight times more rockets into Lebanon than Hezbollah into Israel. Hezbollah has said that it will stop as soon as Israel stops its murder campaign in Gaza.
The Western media talk up the ‘plans’ of the US, France and Britain for a temporary ceasefire. But these are the exact same countries which are arming Israel. How can you pretend to be a mediator while arming one side?
They see Israel as on outpost of the Western imperialist camp and, while they are embarrassed, by its open ferocity, they will give Israel ‘ironclad defence’. Their ceasefire talk is only a cover to assuage public opinion while they support Israel’s right to murder and invade. This is why the US, for example, persistently votes with Israel even when there are mild mannered condemnations at the UN.
Nor should we fall for the Irish government’s fake outrage. They know that the Irish people understand the reality of colonialism and overwhelmingly support the Palestinian cause. So the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Green Government intensifies its rhetoric but does nothing to harm either Israel or upset its sponsor, the US.
We need to call a halt to this double game of rhetorical condemnations while refusing to take any concrete action to stop Israel. Even when it has been revealed that planes bound for Israel’s war effort fly over Irish airspace, there is a ‘do-nothing’ approach from the government. One thing we have learnt after nearly a year of war is that Israel does not care about words. It is time for action.
People Before Profit has proposed some key measures to help isolate Israel
- The Israeli ambassador should be expelled. At the moment she has only been ‘re-called’ by the Israeli state. She should be told to pack her bags and leave.
- The Irish state should endorse a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions policy. Every state agency should cut trade links with Israel or companies that support it.
- US Troops should be told to stop using Shannon. Without US bombs and weaponry, Israel could not continue its murderous campaigns.
- The Occupied Territories Bill should be passed immediately. Fine Gael is the only party holding this up.
We want to make Palestine a general election issue by calling for real solidarity – not just words. If you can help, get in touch.