Interactions Report - April 2025

Ireland witnessed escalating tensions between its stated commitments to neutrality and human rights and its actual policies on Palestine. While grassroots activism surged - highlighted by successful pressure on Powell Electronics to halt shipments to Israel and widespread condemnation of the Gaza genocide by civil society and political figures—government actions often contradicted public sentiment. Notable instances included the authorisation of a U.S. military flight to Tel Aviv, resistance to the Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill, and the Central Bank’s continued facilitation of Israeli bonds. Despite vocal opposition from parties like the Social Democrats and trade unions backing BDS and the Occupied Territories Bill, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and other ministers stopped short of holding Israel directly accountable. The month underscored a widening gap between grassroots advocacy and government inertia, raising questions about Ireland’s credibility on the international stage.

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