Mixed views on support for Israeli boycott among Kildare councillors
Palestine and Israel conflict. Country flags on broken wall.
THERE was a passionate debate over Kildare’s solidarity with the people of Palestine with one councillor complaining there was excessive support for the cause.
At the latest meeting of Kildare County Council (KCC), a motion asking that the council “supports the international Boycott, Divest and Sanction movement and, refrains from purchasing goods and services originating from Israeli-occupied territories in Palestine” was brought forward by Celbridge councillor Claire O’Rourke.
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is a nonviolent movement led by Palestinians that promotes boycotts, divestments and economic sanctions against Israel.
The motion was passed by the councillors, with 20 voting in favour of it, nine against it and seven choosing to abstain.
During the meeting and in a report published afterwards, KCC officials stated that the council is currently obliged to comply with EU procurement Directives and national procurement advice.
They added that the motion “would require a national or central government approach in order for the executive to be able to enforce it.” Cllr O’Rourke’s motion sparked passionate discussion in the council chambers.
Cllr Tom McDonnell opposed the motion, criticising what he viewed as excessive support for Palestine and stating that there should be more support for persecuted Christians in Sudan and Nigeria.
Cllrs Noel Connolly, Chris Pender and Nuala Killeen were vocal in their support for the motion. Cllr Connolly stated that “silence is complicity” in the face of the suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people.
Cllr Pender responded to Cllr McDonnell by pointing out that “Christians, Jews and Muslims are being killed” in Palestine, whilst cllr Killeen expressed her desire for conscious purchasing where possible.
When a council representative expressed resistance to the motion and claimed that the council “was just following legislation”, cllr O’Rourke asked her fellow councillors to consider the sentiment that “nothing is politically right that is morally wrong” before voting on the motion. O’Rourke mistakenly attributed the quote to Daniel O’Connell, with it actually being attributed to William E. Gladstone.
The council told cllr O’Rourke that such a ban would put the council in a position of legal risk. The motion went to vote nonetheless.
The Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023 when Hamas killed around 1,200 people and abducted 251 in a raid on Israel.
Since then, Gaza has been devasted by the Israeli bombardment of it. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 70,000 since the start of the war. The UN Independent International Commission found in September that Israel had committed genocide.
