[Drugmachine]

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137066

Irish trade union leaders and its Foreign Minister have issued separate statements that call for a “boycott” of Israel while the Jewish State’s counterterrorist sanctions against Hamas were termed a “medieval siege.”
Foreign Minister Michael Martin recently wrote in The New York Times, “I genuinely believe that the medieval siege conditions being imposed on the people of Gaza are unacceptable.” He did not refer to Hamas' smuggling of advanced weapons from Iran and Syria.

His comments have given encouragement for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to pursue a boycott against Israel, which Martin says he opposes. The ICTU held a special conference to examine how it can implement a boycott but heard Martin address them on Friday, “The government does not agree with or support any form of boycott which would be completely inimical to the frank and honest dialogue we have always pursued with the Israeli government.”

Although he did not comment on Gaza-based attacks on Israel in the NY Times article, he told the union that they are “completely unjustified, indiscriminate and deadly attacks and added, “Hamas must also cease the insidious practice of kidnapping. I again call on Hamas to release the young Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit."

While saying he opposes boycott, he nevertheless backed an embargo on Jewish products made in Judea and Samaria, which the EU does not recognize as part of Israel. Trade union president Jack O’Connor defended a total boycott of Israel and insisted it does not represent “hostility to the People of Israel” but rather is motivated by “a sense of obligation.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it welcomed Martin’s opposition to a boycott but regretted his opposition to European Union proposals to upgrade relations with Israel.

The Irish Independent’s Ian O'Doherty castigated the trade union for concentrating on a political issue while ignoring workers’ day-to-day needs. Under the headline “Where are your union dues going?” he wrote sarcastically that despite high unemployment, “The Irish Congress of Trade Unions…really knows what is currently occupying the minds of its members.
“Will they be discussing the best ways to try and climb out of the hole we've dug ourselves into? Nope. Will they be examining how to most effectively start to lower our unemployment figures and venture forth into the whole concept of job creating rather than job reduction? Nope.

“They’re having a conference about boycotting Israel. It is truly jaw-dropping to think that in the middle of the single most catastrophic depression in the entire history of this State, the leadership of this country's umbrella union organization is wasting time and money on a racist campaign.

“Does the fact that the Iranian regime has spent the last few years ruthlessly crushing their own trade union movement matter to them not a jot? No, as far as the Left is concerned, any criticism of any non-white, and in particular, Muslim country, is seen as neo-imperialism and racism.” (IsraelNationalNews.com)

[Ifroham4]

Does a total boycott of Israel count as a “medieval siege”?

You notice that when we limit certain items from being imported into Gaza it is "collective punishment", but when they boycott us, it is ok.

[doctorzlo]

Here's Jack O'Connor trying to be humourous a few months back.

He's a ex-Trotskyite trade union leader on 124,000 euro a year.

Public sector unions are not all that popular with the population at the moment because they are perceived as unwilling to budge an inch on the issue of pay-cuts (the new aristocracy some have quipped), you can expect more attempts to distract from the main economic woes of the day from more Irish/U.K./European public sector trade unions.

"You notice that when we limit certain items from being imported into Gaza it is "collective punishment", but when they boycott us, it is ok."

...and as pointed out in the Independent item:
From news article:
Has the irony of a trade union movement trying to boycott the one of the very few countries in the region with their own active trade union movement completely escaped them?


Does the fact that the Iranian regime has spent the last few years ruthlessly crushing their own trade union movement matter to them not a jot?


No, as far as the Left is concerned, any criticism of any non-white, and in particular, Muslim country, is seen as neo-imperialism and racism.
But that sensitivity doesn't extend to Israel.


So, as you're heading in to work today, just pause for a moment and contemplate what your union dues are being spent on -- they're not being spent on your best interests, they are, rather being spent on a cynical, foggy-headed, ideologically driven distraction from the real issues that affect us all.


A case of dues against Jews, if you will.