The Shamrock & The Star: Support for Israel from the Emerald Isle (video)
The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has the reputation of being one the most vitriolic of all such organisations in Western Europe, and one of its stalwarts (who appears on some if not all of the videos I've posted on here from time to time) is presently wielding a vociferous seemingly obsessive campaign against "Israeli blood diamonds".
It's wonderful, then, to come across this video (hat tip: reader Ian) of support for Israel from Irish people, and so touching to see and hear their messages.
The Irish are not an anti-Semitic people. Hundreds of Irish came to the new State of Israel and fought on her behalf in the 1948 Israeli War of Independence and in the struggle against the English, before 1948. The late Lord Mayor of Dublin, Bobby Briscoe, was Jewish. And there is a group called The Loyal League of the Yiddish Sons of Ireland (they eat green bagels on St. Patrick's Day)...it's true...the group is now based in New York City. The best boss I ever had was an Irish gentleman. My Jewishness was never an issue for him. He even donated an antique, engraved Jewish wine plate that he discovered to a local synagogue.
Thanks for that very interesting and reassuring comment, Anon. Robert Briscoe was celebrated, of course.
I've heard that when the great American baseball player Yogi Berra, known for his malapropisms (such as remarking of a night club in NY "Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded"), was told that Dublin now had a Jewish mayor, he exclaimed: "Only in America!"
There is an Irish support for Israel group. I have a link somewhere, but can't find it! Problem is that my filing system is too good!!
ReplyDeletehttp://nifriendsofisrael.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shirlee.
DeleteNow this makes my Irish half smile...
ReplyDeleteThat's the spirit!
DeleteDon't forget Cliona Campbell.
ReplyDeletehttp://cifwatch.com/2010/09/28/ireland-and-israel-has-that-ship-sailed-an-exclusive-cif-watch-essay-by-cliona-campbell/
Thanks - yes, a corker of a lass!
DeleteThat was a great article, thanks. I missed that one at the time.
DeleteThe Irish are not an anti-Semitic people. Hundreds of Irish came to the new State of Israel and fought on her behalf in the 1948 Israeli War of Independence and in the struggle against the English, before 1948. The late Lord Mayor of Dublin, Bobby Briscoe, was Jewish. And there is a group called The Loyal League of the Yiddish Sons of Ireland (they eat green bagels on St. Patrick's Day)...it's true...the group is now based in New York City. The best boss I ever had was an Irish gentleman. My Jewishness was never an issue for him. He even donated an antique, engraved Jewish wine plate that he discovered to a local synagogue.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that very interesting and reassuring comment, Anon.
DeleteRobert Briscoe was celebrated, of course.
I've heard that when the great American baseball player Yogi Berra, known for his malapropisms (such as remarking of a night club in NY "Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded"), was told that Dublin now had a Jewish mayor, he exclaimed: "Only in America!"