This article is from page 11 of the 2014-08-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
CALLS for the people of Clare to boycott Israeli products were made at a protest rally, which took place in Ennis on Saturday afternoon last.
Those attending the Ennis Vigil for Gaza in O’Connell Square, which was organized by the Clare branch of the http://www.ipsc.ie/ Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign heard calls the boycott of Israeli goods that was kickstarted in Kinvara to be rolled out around County Clare.
Last week retailers, cafés, restaurants and a pharmacy in Kinvara agreed to operate a boycott of Israeli goods in protest against the “ongoing bombardment” of Gaza.
According to the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), Kinvara is the first and only town in Ireland, to take this collective action in protest at Israeli action in Gaza.
Saturday’s Ennis rally was attended by about 50 people, with the lead address given by the chairman of the Clare branch of the http://www.ipsc. ie/ Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Tomás Mac Conamara,
“The numbers that are here today are testimony to the people of county Clare against injustice,” he said. “It is very important for us to remind ourselves that as we gather here today in Ennis, as people gather in Limerick and gather in Dublin and around the world in solidarity with Palestine, that the people in Gaza are being bombed as we speak.
“Children are being murdered as we speak. This did not start three weeks ago. This started with the occupation of Palestine and it will only end when the occupation of Palestine is lifted. It will end when the siege of Gaza is ended. If Israel wants safety for its citizens and if Benjamin Netanyahu wants safety for his citizens, get out of Palestine. It is not your country,” he added.
According to Kevin Squires, co-ordinator of the IPSC, the boycotting Israeli products is “an effective and peaceful way to bring pressure to bear on the Israeli state to end its occupation of Palestine, and persistent violations of International law”.