Trocaire denies anti-Israeli bias claim

TROCAIRE has defended a document on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that it sent to schools across Ireland after a Southside politician accused the aid agency of giving a

“one-sided

? portrayal.

Cllr Richard Humphreys (Lab) criticised the aid agency for circulating the document, entitled

‘Give Peace a Chance’, to Irish schools.

Trocaire has sent the document, which was first published in 2009, to post primary schools all over the country and says its aim is to look at conflict

“through the lens of the Israeli-Palestinian

? situation.

It also advises teachers that the document can be

“incorporated into citizenship education, religious education, geography, English or history classes

?.

The document states:

“In 1967, following another Arab-Israeli war, Israel occupied the Palestinian lands of the West Bank and Gaza.

?

It goes on to say that since 1967, Israel has created settlements in the West Bank and there are now over half a million Israeli settlers in the West Bank,

“even though these settlements are illegal under international law

?.

In addition, it states that Palestinians continue to be

“forcibly displaced

? from their land, having their homes demolished and farms bulldozed to make way for settlements.

It also points out that for the last five years Israel has imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip.

“However, the blockade constitutes collective punishment of the entire population, and is illegal under international law,

? the Trocaire document states.

“The blockade, together with the destruction caused by the Israeli invasion of Gaza in 2009, has created a humanitarian crisis which causes much suffering for the ordinary people of Gaza.

?

The document includes an interview with a 13-year-old Palestinian boy whose family’s land in the West Bank was allegedly seized by the Israeli Defence Forces and handed over to Israeli settlers.

There is also an interview with an 18-year-old Palestinian woman who claimed that she and other Palestinians were subjected to continuous physical violence by Israeli settlers in the city of Hebron.

Cllr Humphreys described the document as

“outrageously biased as to amount to an insult to the intelligence of students

?.

“They have produced a document on the Israel-Palestine question which makes no effort at balance,

? he claimed.

“It shows a Palestinian flag on the front cover and tells a one-sided story of Palestinian grievances in its content.

?

Cllr Humphreys also said the document made no reference to the Holocaust and added that it failed to note that Israel was

“invaded

? in 1967.

He added that the document presents as facts

“what are tendentious and contested opinions, such as its views on the legality of Israel’s actions

?.

“Its account of the rationale for the blockade of Gaza is laughably naïve and takes no account of the need to prevent terrorist attacks on Israel,

? he added.

A spokesperson for Trocaire said it had worked with both Israeli and Palestinian partners since 2002 to further the cause of

“peace and understanding

? in the region.

“Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and violate the human rights of Palestinians living in the West Bank,

? the spokesperson said.

“The continued expansion of these settlements is making life a misery for ordinary Palestinians. Violations such as house demolitions, land confiscation and restrictions on movement are wrong and should not be tolerated.

“Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and the EU, including the Irish Government, has consistently highlighted their illegality.

?