It should be remembered that 10,000s of Irish men and women went over to Britain enlisted in the Armed Forces, and valiantly fought against the Nazis.

There is no reason to attack all of the Irish simply because of ICTU’s stupid decisions.

Antisemitism in Ireland has always been a fairly marginal interest. There was the Limerick pogrom and not much else.

“Let’s not forget that during WW2 the Irish president while officially “neutral” supported the Axis powers, and upon Hitler’s death he went to the German Embassy to sign a condolence book.”

Ireland, under Taoiseach (the equivalent of prime minister, not president)Eamon De Valera strictly adhered to the outer forms of neutrality while actively cooperating with the allies on questions like overflights from Northern Ireland and the return of downed pilots. Dozens of German agents were also arrested and interned. Much more could and should have been done but to suggest Ireland supported the Axis during WWII is a grotesque exaggeration.

“Also and crucially, during WW2 the Irish didn’t let many Jews into the country and hence left them to their fate at the hands of the Nazis.”

Ireland could and should have done more to open its doors to Jewish refugees before and in the early stages of the war, when it would have been possible to do so. The same can be said of a great number of other countries, including the leading Allied powers.

And no Irish government is ever going to support any kind of boycott of Israel

Let’s not forget that during WW2 the Irish president while officially “neutral” supported the Axis powers, and upon Hitler’s death he went to the German Embassy to sign a condolence book.

Also and crucially, during WW2 the Irish didn’t let many Jews into the country and hence left them to their fate at the hands of the Nazis.

ICTU’s acts should be seen as an extension of these policies. They are in essence antisemitic and they will backfire if ever they are endorsed by the Irish government or implemented in any way.

Finally, the actions of ICTU shows once again that anti-Zionist views and policies have more to do with local political realities then with the rights or wrongs of the conflict: in this case the Irish nationalist take the side of the Arabs because they their enemies the Protestants in the North siding with Israel.

I just wanted to say, [Mr Deasey] said. Ireland, they say, has the honour of being the only country which never persecuted the jews. Do you know that? No. And do you know why?
…
Because she never let them in