Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has shared his intention to utilise his interaction with US President Joe Biden to encourage America to contribute to the peace efforts in Gaza. However, there’s an argument that this could be achieved via a simple phone call, rather than going through the yearly St Patrick’s Day events in Washington. There’s also doubt concerning the effectiveness of such a gentle approach in swaying US foreign policy, particularly given the lack of substantial proof surrounding America’s plans to cease their provision of weapons to Israel – weapons which have resulted in over 30,000 Palestinian fatalities in Gaza.
In Fintan Lane’s opinion, the situation calls for a more assertive stance from both the Irish Government and the international community. He suggests the discontinuation of Shannon Airport’s use by the US military as a potential method of communicating Ireland’s disapproval of US support for the Israeli onslaught on Gaza.
Regarding a separate incident, Lane views the decision of Catherine Martin to attend the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas – an event sponsored by the US army and associated with armament suppliers RTX and BAE Systems, which supply weapons to Israel – as greatly concerning. He condemns her participation, considering the public knowledge of these links, as he believes it contributes to the normalisation of Israeli hostility and implicates Ireland further. He calls on Martin to reconsider her attendance and to make a statement that mirrors and supports the standpoint of Irish artists.
In opposition to the message conveyed by Martin’s actions, Lane offers his support to the Palestinians subject to Israeli oppression, as well as the brave Irish artists who have decided to withdraw their attendance from the SXSW event, despite the personal sacrifices involved.
In response to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s intended request for American involvement once more in the endeavour for peace when he sees US President Joe Biden, Dylan Tighe from Dublin 8 insists that there’s equal probability of President Vladimir Putin steering Russia towards democratic pursuits, keeping in view America’s latest global interventions. This opinion was voiced by Tomas McBride from Letterkenny, Co Donegal.