(NEWS) Irish Politicians Set To Travel On Gaza Aid Vessel

"Two TDs and one senator will travel on an Irish ship which is aiming to breach the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews, party colleague Senator Mark Daly and Sinn Fe¤ in’s Aengus O’Snodaigh have signed up to the 25-person passenger list.



They are hoping to be the first Irish parliamentarians to breach the Israeli government imposed ban on aid vessels entering Gaza port.

A campaign group headed by Dr Fintan Lane has put a €25,000 down-payment on the vessel, which is currently docked in the Mediterranean. The crew and passengers will be all Irish.

Lane was an activist on the first flotilla to Gaza earlier this year. Nine activists were killed on one of the ships after the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli commandos.

This new vessel will be captained by Shane Dillon, who was first mate on the Challenger I, which was also part of the first flotilla.

Dillon was deported from Israel when that vessel was boarded and forcibly commandeered by Israeli soldiers into the port of Ashdod.

Twenty names have so far been confirmed for the 25-person passenger list, with the remaining five to be decided, Lane told The Sunday Business Post.



Lane said that the Irish activists were ready to travel by next month, but said a consensus had emerged among participants that the next flotilla would take place in March 2011, to allow more vessels to participate.

'We could have gone in November with six or seven boats, but if we wait until after Christmas, we will have 14 or 15,' he said, adding that the vessel would be re-registered under an Irish flag before setting off.

The other vessels are due to be supplied and manned by activists from the US, Canada, Spain, Italy, Britain, Sweden, Malaysia and Norway, among others.

The flotilla will include the MV Mavi Marmara, the boat on which the activists were shot dead during the last campaign. The Mavi Marmara is currently in Turkey but the interior of the ship has been largely destroyed and will require a full scale refit.

Turkish marine engineers have said this will take several months to complete." (source)

(BLOG) For The Love Of The Irish

"Many in Ireland think Israel has much to learn from their peace process, but critics say the Emerald Isle often demonstrates a far-from-sparkling grasp of the specifics of our conflict.

It was supposed to have been a conference on 'Media and Conflict,' examining the role journalists play in war zones and battlefields. Organized by the European Union and held in the Irish capital, the three-day parley last month drew on the experiences and expertise of local politicians, academics and, of course, journalists who for many years covered 'the troubles' between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland.

However, as each presentation unfolded it soon became clear that despite the topics listed on the agenda, a disproportionate amount of attention was being focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

(NEWS) Tony Blair Hit With Shoes At Pro-Palestinian Demonstration In Dublin

"Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was met by angry anti-Iraq war demonstrators and pro-Palestinians when heading to a book-signing in the Irish capital Dublin.

Around two hundred participants assembled for the event waving Palestinian flags and banners describing Blair as a liar and war criminal, and hurling objects such as plastic water bottles, shoes, and eggs at his convoy.

Police created a security cordon around protestors and shut down roads leading to Blair’s book signing. Around ten activists were arrested in the incident.

This was Blair’s first official appearance to sign his memoirs released this week in his best-selling book, Journey, in which Blair defended the decision to wage war on Iraq.

Blair reiterated in his memoirs that the choice to invade Iraq was correct despite the human and material losses in the US-led invasion.

According to the data we had, Blair said, I remain convinced that leaving the (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein in power was much more dangerous for our security.

Blair, who currently serves as special envoy of the Mideast Peace Quartet, said: Although the losses were heavy, the fact is that leaving Saddam and his sons in power in Iraq would have been much worse." (source)

(NEWS) Suspicious Envelope From Ireland Stirs Itching Frenzy At Bezeq

"Bezeq International employees suffer itching symptoms after handling envelope containing brown powder. Sappers, police called to scene; transfer envelope for testing.

Three people on Sunday reported symptoms of severe itching after being exposed to an unidentified substance that spilled out of an envelope sent to Bezeq International telecommunications company's office in Petah Tikva.

The envelope, which was sent from Ireland, was delivered to the company's Petah Tikva office by a messenger."

(NEWS) EC Halts Proposed Data Deal With Israel

"The European Commission has halted a proposal to allow Israel access to potentially sensitive data on European Union citizens following concerns expressed by the Irish Government.

The concerns arose following the use of forged Irish passports in the murder of a Hamas operative, allegedly by Israeli agents.



In a surprise move this morning, the Commission said they would withdraw the application to effectively recognise Israel's data protection standards as being on a par with those enjoyed in the EU.

According to a spokesman for the Department of Justice the European Commission acknowledged the concerns expressed by an Irish official about the reliability of the Israeli data protection regime.

It is understood of particular concern to the Government is the fact that the manual examination of passports at Israeli border controls are not covered by Israeli's data protection rules.

While electronic data are covered by Israel's data protection regime, it appears that data gathered manually are not.

An official from the Department of justice is in Brussels today and was due to vote against the procedure recognising Israel's data protection system.

It was presumed by officials that it would be a largely symbolic gesture because a majority of countries appeared to support the measure going ahead.

However the European Commission decided to withdraw the procedure for now, although it may well proceed later down the line if the concerns expressed by Ireland have been addressed." (source)

(NEWS) EU To Back Data Storage In Israel Despite Irish Fears

"IRELAND’S EU partners are poised to brush aside the Government’s reservations about a data transfer pact with Israel by backing a plan to allow the storage there of sensitive personal data on European citizens.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has campaigned to scrap the measure, citing serious concern about the use of eight fake Irish passports by the alleged Israeli assassins of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.



Although the Cabinet has instructed a Department of Justice official to push the issue to vote at a meeting today of an EU committee on the protection of personal data, Government sources say Ireland is likely to be in a minority of one on the question.

No single state has a veto on the initiative, as such questions are decided on the basis of a qualified majority vote. This means the initiative is likely to proceed.

Mr Ahern sought in July to block the European Commission initiative by terminating a written procedure under which member states were asked to approve a declaration that the EU recognises Israeli data protection standards as sufficient to allow member states to transfer data there.

The Government believes data used in the forged documents was gleaned from the official inspection of travellers’ passports. Israel has neither confirmed or denied involvement in the assassination.

'The Minister for Justice is highly concerned at the manner in which Irish passports have been copied and forged by agents acting on behalf of Israel,' said a spokesman for Mr Ahern.

'In light of that, a senior official from the Department of Justice will be demanding a full explanation on why Israel should be designated as an acceptable country for the transfer of personal data of EU citizens,' he continued.

The Government wants the commission to set out the procedures it followed when deciding to allow such transfers, and to outline the protections to prevent abuse of personal data stored in Israel.

It also wants the commission to set out what remedies are available to individuals in relation to any abuse of their data. It wants reassurance as to the independence of the data protection authorities in Israel.

The spokesman said: 'The commission has been put on notice that Ireland will want to see a detailed explanation as to why Israel is acceptable, and Ireland may press for a vote in relation to the issue. The Minister has been of the view that this issue is far too serious to be allowed go through on the nod.'

Mr Ahern and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin discussed the matter on the sidelines of the Cabinet meeting yesterday. In spite of the perceived absence of support among other member states, they resolved to seek a vote at the meeting today.

'On a point of principle, where passports have been abused by Israel, the Irish official has been instructed to push this to a vote,' said a Government source." (source)

(NEWS) Irish Groups To Buy Ship For New Gaza Aid Flotilla

"Public figures, journalists, activists plan to join flotilla carrying aid to Hamas-ruled territory in second attempt to breach Israeli blockade.

Pro-Palestinian groups in Ireland launched a fundraising drive on Monday to buy a ship for a second attempt to breach Israel's sea blockade of Gaza.

The Irish Ship to Gaza campaign aims to send between 30 and 50 Irish people, including public figures, journalists and activists, to join a flotilla taking aid to people in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip."

(NEWS) 50 Set To Join 2nd Irish Gaza Aid Flotilla

"Up to 50 Irish campaigners are expected to join a coalition of pro-Palestinian supporters on a second aid flotilla to Gaza, it has been revealed.

Seven groups have come together to bring public figures, members of the media and activists on cargo ships and passenger boats in late autumn.

Campaigners say the sea mission is a second attempt to end the four year-long Israeli blockade of Gaza." (source)

(NEWS) Despite Reaction, Irish Student IDF Volunteer Would Do It Again

"Cliona Campbell, a 19 year old Irish student who volunteered to help in the IDF says that she returned home after two months in Israel to a hate campaign, organized by anti-Israel elements in Ireland who saw her story written up in a local newspaper.

A resident of Cork in Ireland, Campbell volunteered several months ago for a program coordinated by Sar-El, which sends volunteers to work on IDF bases or in nursing homes, helping out with routine activities such as maintenance, packing 'kitbags', working in the kitchen, gardening, etc. Participants also take tours of the country, and learn about Israeli and Jewish life."




My Opinion

Good on you Cliona, don't let them bully you around like this, try to share your experiences with them as they are only deluded by all the garbage they are fed by the media and anti-Israel activists... Not everything is black and white, Israel is super colorful as you now know :)

We hope that you return, perhaps with some new people who need to experience what Israel is all about and how it is nothing like the media portrays it...

I take my hat off to you and hope these ignorant people learn something and do not harm you in any way, if they do then they only prove how thug-like their views on the world are in the first place which reflects back on them anyway...

If you are reading this, know that we will stand by you in any way that we can, take care and Shalom!

Related Article:

• Irish student claims she’s being abused for supporting Israel

(NEWS) 150 Irish Artists Pledge To Boycott Israel

"A CULTURAL boycott of Israel was launched yesterday, with more than 150 Irish artists announcing that they intend not to perform or exhibit in Israel, or to accept any funding from institutions linked to the Israeli government.

The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) said it was in protest at Israel’s 'treatment of the Palestinian people'.

Raymond Deane of the IPSC cited a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry in 2005 saying they considered culture a propaganda tool.

He said: 'Artists who perform there are backing it [the Israeli government] whether they like it or not.'"

(NEWS) Facebook Page Decries 'Jewish Invasion' - UPDATED!

"388 "Likes" posted already by Facebook members.

A Facebook page noting the increased presence of Orthodox Jews in the Irish town of Midleton appeared online earlier this week, using words and images that could easily be construed as anti-Semitic.

The page titled 'The invasion of Jews in midleton' has already received 388 'Likes' from members of the popular social networking site."




How You Can Help - UPDATED

SUCCESS! - after a long hard campaign to have the page removed from Facebook, it has been successful... thanks to everyone who helped with this...

The Facebook page can be seen here

It seems this page has caused much of a fuss and has also caused other news agencies in Ireland to publish articles, you can view one here...

I have added this page to my list of Anti-semitic pages to be removed from Facebook...

Please report this group as Racist / Hate Speech...
Thanks

(NEWS) PA Gives Irish Flotilla Passengers Honorary Citizenship

"The Palestinian Authority has granted travel documents and honorary citizenship to Irish anti-Israel activists who participated in a Gaza aid flotilla.

A spokesman for the General Delegation of Palestine in Ireland confirmed the offer and said passports and honorary citizenship had been offered to all activists who were on the May 31 flotilla, according to a report in the Irish Times."

(NEWS) Ireland Blocks EU Data Sharing With Israel

"Ireland blocked a European Union plan to allow sharing of European citizens' personal data with Israel over concerns that Israeli officials could not be trusted with the information.

Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern on July 6 formally objected to the EU’s recognition of Israel’s data protection standards, which would have allowed the exchange of personal information, forcing a full debate of the proposal at a committee hearing.

A spokesman for Ahern said the Irish government had the 'gravest concern' that information supplied to Israel could be used to forge passports for use by intelligence agencies."

(TECH) Irish Times: What Ireland Has To Learn From Israel's High-Tech Companies

"In the past 60 years Israel has had 50-fold economic growth, much of it fuelled by technology start-ups funded by venture capitalists. Are there lessons for the standard-bearers of our ‘smart economy’ or should we be careful what we wish for?

ISRAEL: IS IT the promised land of technology and innovation, the ultimate smart economy? Many people think so. If so, maybe Ireland should be following Israel’s model.

The tiny nation certainly has an extraordinary record for attracting global venture capital, sparking off leading-edge research and creating innovative companies.

Israel has experienced 50-fold economic growth in 60 years, according to Startup Nation: the Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle , by Dan Senor and Saul Singer. In 2008, they write, per-capita venture-capital investments into Israel were 30 times greater than into Europe, 80 times greater than into China and even two and a half times greater than into the US. Israel has the highest density of start-ups in the world: 3,850, or 'one for every 1,844 Israelis'. There are more Israeli companies on the technology-focused Nasdaq exchange than all companies from all of Europe."

(NEWS) Three Countries Boycott Academic Conference At Bar Ilan University

"Arutz Sheva TV attended the Bar-Ilan University Ambassadors' Forum and spoke with Dr. Shlomo Shapiro, Associate Director of Research of the Center for International Communications.

The conference, entitled 'Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism', was attended by more than 30 ambassadors with the exception of the Turkish, Irish and South African representatives, who cancelled their participation the morning after the Gaza flotilla incident."

(NEWS) Ireland Expels Israeli Diplomat

"Investigation concludes Israel responsible for forged passports used."

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(NEWS) Ireland: Rachel Corrie Won't Dock At Ashdod

"Dublin says reached deal with Israel by which aid ship would dock at Ashdod, but crew refused"

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