Letters to the Editor: Ireland needs to overcome the fear of US disapproval
Ghalban, On Israeli In Month 13, Wahid Izhian Alshaer Captioncredit">picture: Airstrikes Hani Emphasis
We heard many similar assertions as the Israeli military pounded Gaza into dust, killing thousands of children.
Israel played the game initially, describing massive indiscriminate bombing raids as “targeted” and “precise”, and the land invasion happened in increments. It was enough for US president Joe Biden, who had an electoral cycle on his mind, and the weapons continued to flow.
Repeated breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza have made no difference. The US has the capacity to stop the killing by denying the means to Israel and has chosen instead to whistle past the graveyard.
The US speaks the language of peace and diplomacy, but in practice materially assists an increasingly belligerent Israel and not just with vast shipments of weapons.
Joe Biden happily endorsed Israel’s recent assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, describing it as a “measure of justice”, a pat on the back that will inevitably be understood by Israeli militarists as an encouragement to continue.
It is clear at this stage that Israel is determined to risk a direct war with Iran, knowing that the US will provide its usual “ironclad” support and probably even play a direct role. The Iranian rocket attack on Tuesday might well provide the desired pretext.
In a very real sense, the unconditional support for Israel offered by the US has partly led to the current escalation. Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government might be warmongers, but there is nothing random in what they are doing.
They are relying on the US to have their back and, also, probably on widespread antipathy to the detestable regime in Iran to weaken global opposition to a horrific regional war.
With the massacre in Gaza ongoing, the invasion of Lebanon now under way, and Netanyahu openly talking about regime change in Tehran, it is about time that “ironclad” US support for the dangerous nuclear-armed state of Israel is recognised fully for the damage it causes.
Governments that claim to want peace in the Middle East need to be less credulous about the role played by the US, which is an enabler of Israeli violence and far from a neutral party.
In particular, the Government here needs to be less reticent about criticising US military and political support for Israel. This means, of course, that the Irish State needs to overcome its crippling fear of US disapproval.
The Government is also conning people into believing that welfare will keep them included when it is alienating them more and more with a handout culture.
If a tiny fraction of what was spent on welfare went into decent job schemes which give a future to any one that wants one, no one would be claiming any benefits.
This is a divided Ireland where welfare has become the offspring of cronyism and a governmental system which is trying to buy its way around social injustice and lock shops.
One day perhaps, there'll be a wake-up call when the Government and marginalised people on welfare for years or decades realise it’s just not working and the notion of equal opportunity is completely rejected as extremely misleading and a significant reason why this country will never really develop properly, because not nearly enough people get a chance.
It is worth reminding everyone that the work of cultivating peace is not the responsibility of a few, but of everyone. It is not just about global treaties or national policies, it is about the daily actions we take in our communities, in our schools, and in our homes.
Every time we choose empathy over indifference, dialogue over conflict, and justice over inequality, we are contributing to the cultivation of a culture of peace.
Peace is not something that will simply come to us; it is something we must build, brick by brick, generation by generation. And while this work may seem daunting at times, we must never lose heart.
As Martin Luther King Jr once said: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
I believe that one of the greatest examples of cultivating a culture of peace is Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders.
On International Day of Peace, Tipperary Peace Convention paid tribute to the unwavering commitment of an organisation that has brought medical care and humanitarian assistance to some of the most vulnerable populations across the globe, with the Tipperary International Peace Award.
For over five decades, MSF has embodied the true spirit of compassion, courage, and resilience. Whether working in war-torn regions, responding to outbreaks of disease, or aiding communities devastated by natural disasters, its teams have consistently provided life-saving care in the most challenging circumstances.
Their work transcends borders, politics, and conflict, affirming the fundamental belief that every person deserves access to medical care and dignity, no matter their location or situation.
The prestigious Tipperary International Peace Award not only acknowledges the incredible impact the organisation has had on millions of lives, but also its role in cultivating a culture of peace, of providing stability and hope in regions facing unimaginable hardship. Its teams have shown the world what it means to put humanity first, often at great personal risk to themselves, and in doing so they inspire all of us to envision a more compassionate and just world.