Dublin politicians praise decision to halt Israeli war bonds

Dublin politicians have praised the decision by the Central Bank to stop the sale of Israeli war bonds.

The decision, announced on Monday, means that the bonds will now be processed in Luxembourg’s banking system.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said the decision was a “major victory for the Palestine solidarity movement.”

“I salute the activists that achieved this and I condemn again the complicity of the Irish government in their failure to act on this issue. The tenacity of the activists stands in stark contrast to the weasel words of Simon Harris and the government,” he said.

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan said the decision was “long overdue.”

Boylan noted that Israel was able to raise €12 billion “to support their genocide by selling these bonds through our central bank.”

“This could have been avoided if the Central bank, or the government, had shown the courage to stand up and immediately block these sales,” she said.

“The government needs to go further and fully enact The Occupied Territories Bill, and call for a full EU arms embargo on Israel.

“Israel will now attempt to sell these bonds through Luxembourg; I urge the people of Luxembourg to stand firm and ensure these bonds are blocked everywhere in the EU.”

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said  “no EU financial institution should be involved in raising funds which are used to annihilate innocent civilians – and it is deeply disappointing that Luxembourg is now continuing to facilitate the sale of these bonds.”

“The EU response to this genocide has been shameful – failing to even agree a response in which Israel’s barbarism has been criticised.

“It is now time for the EU to live up to its own purported values, on human rights and international law, and suspend its trade agreement with Israel and impose sanctions on its genocidal regime.”