Defend Neutrality | Support the Occupied Territories Bill | Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig

 Defend Neutrality.If truth be told the long standing claim of neutrality by the southern Irish state is not all its made out to be. It is a fact that successive Irish governments have turned a blind eye to American war planes using Shannon as a stopping off point for attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as carrying munitions to Israel for its genocidal war against the people of Palestine.  US planes carrying political prisoners to interrogation and detention sites, where they were tortured, stopped at Shannon to refuel. A breach of international law. The government did nothing.In recent months a significant and increasing number of articles have been published in the mainstream Dublin based media claiming that neutrality was fine in the past but is not fit for purpose in the world today. It is ‘morally degenerate’ wrote one writer. Getting rid of neutrality would make the Irish state appear more ‘grown-up’ said another. The language has become increasingly belligerent as the demand is made for a substantial increase in spending on weapons and for the Irish government to join the NATO alliance. Support the Occupied Territories BillLast week An Taoiseach Micheál Martin is reported to have told an Israeli lobby group in New York that the Occupied Territories Bill is not on the legislative calendar. He is sticking rigidly to the line that there are constitutional difficulties that require the Bill to be significantly redrafted. The end result of this prevarication is that the Occupied Territories Bill remains in limbo.While Micheál Martin stonewalls meaningful action against Israel that state’s genocide against the Palestinian people is unrelenting. Israel has clearly breached the January ceasefire multiple times. Since 15 January Israeli forces have killed over 150 civilians in the Gaza Strip, including women and children, charity workers and journalists. For almost three weeks now Israel has imposed a blockade on desperately needed aid from entering the devastated region. It has also turned off Gaza’s electricity preventing the desalination plants from providing water for the besieged residents. Beannachtaí na Féile PádraigSt. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for the Irish people and diaspora to celebrate being Irish. In some parts of the world St. Patrick’s Day morphs into a week of celebrations. I hope you enjoyed your St. Patrick’s Day/week wherever you are.This year Friends of Sinn Féin published an advertisement in several US based newspapers, including the New York Times urging Irish America to speak out on the right of the diaspora to vote in Irish Presidential elections and called on the Irish government to prepare for Irish Unity.