Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger has called the government “pathetic” for not cancelling Ireland’s upcoming fixture against Israel.
Earlier this year, Ireland were drawn against Israel in the UEFA Nations League, with Ireland due to play Israel home and away.
While the away match will be played in a neutral venue outside of Israel, the return leg will be held in Dublin.
Coppinger, however, believes the match should not be going ahead at all.
“Of all the things that have happened in recent times, it is absolutely disgusting that the Irish government, which is meant to be a neutral anti-imperialist country, is meant to support the ICJ case against Israel and is meant to support the Palestinian state and people, would not only consider that the game is appropriate but would actively insist and put pressure on the players and the team to play it,” she said.
Coppinger said the government has “absolutely no moral backbone whatsoever” and is “out of touch” for allowing the match to go ahead.
“Simon Harris said we should decouple sports and politics. We would love to. That is an absolutely facetious thing to say. The Minister of State knows there is no separation. Presumably, the Minister of State is okay with Russia not participating in FIFA. It is, therefore, a political entity. Micheál Martin said it should go ahead and, obviously, we have already talked about the Minister, Deputy O’Donovan, saying that the team has no connection to the genocide.”
“This is where the government is absolutely and utterly wrong,” she said.
Coppinger said, “the Palestine solidarity movement is one of the most positive things that has happened in this country and in the world because it is an antidote to the hate, racism and misogyny we have seen in society.”
“I am appealing and have confidence in this regard, but this movement, trade unions and grassroots clubs need to build a massive rank-and-file campaign to stop this match from happening – w e need to organise meetings in areas and need to organise meetings of clubs,” she said.
“It is unbelievable that we have to put Bertie Ahern up as an example. Bertie Ahern refused to issue visas to the Yugoslav team because of the Balkans war at the time. Charlie Haughey intervened about South Africa and apartheid. It is not that they are great; it is just that the government is so pathetic in comparison and that is really saying a lot,” Coppinger stated.
Coppinger was backed up by fellow Dublin West TD Paul Donnelly.
The Sinn Féin TD said “the vast majority of the people oppose the upcoming Ireland-Israel game. It is beyond comprehension, given the team with members of the murderous Israeli army and I will not insult the victims of genocide by calling it a defence force.”
“I will do my utmost to prevent that game from going ahead,” he said.
Donnelly recalled “on 16 July 2014, at approximately 3.30 p.m. Israeli forces fired three missiles that killed four boys while they were playing football on Gaza City’s fishing beach. I will never forget that, and I believe most people will never forget the scenes of those four young boys playing football.”
“How dare the government stand here and allow the game to go ahead?” he asked.
