Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign elects Jewish Chairperson

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Saturday October 24, 2009 18:20 by Freda Hughes - IPSC Media & PR Officer media at ipsc dot ie

Today, Saturday, October 24, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) elected David Landy, an Irish-Jewish academic as their new chairperson. Mr Landy, who lives in Dublin city centre, has long been active in Palestine solidarity work. He was one of the organisers of the public letters from Irish academics in 2006 and 2009 calling for a moratorium of EU funding of Israeli universities. He has written on Zionism and on British Jewish opposition to Israel, and is currently teaching in the Department of Sociology in Trinity College.

L-R: Dan Finn, Freda Hughes, Kevin Squires, David Landy, Mark McDonnell, Martin O'Quigley, Ronan O'Dowd, Ronan Nolan (members of the IPSC National Committee)

After his election, Mr Landy thanked those who elected him and vowed to continue the work of the IPSC, in particular the Boycott Israel campaign. He stated: ‘Palestinian solidarity work in Ireland and internationally has grown from strength to strength. In response to growing Israeli intransigence and growing immiseration of Palestinians, more people are realising that the most appropriate political response lies in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign. Our greatest hope to ensure Israel adheres to international law and starts respecting the rights of Palestinians lies in this non-violent Palestinian-led campaign. In just a few years, we have already made great strides. Now we have to bring the boycott campaign to all walks of life – a consumer boycott, financial divestment from Israeli companies, and government sanctions against a country that has broken more UN resolutions than any other.’

Ronan Nolan, IPSC Consumer Boycott Officer, was elected to the position of Vice-Chairperson. He spoke to his commitment to Palestine which stemmed from his visits to the West Bank over the last two years.

The IPSC also elected Freda Hughes as Media and Public Relations Officer. Freda is a native of West Dublin, a secondary teacher who is currently studying for her doctorate in Maynooth College. She previously held the role of National Events Coordinator, which she has retained, and has been the IPSC's acting Chairperson for the last two months.She spoke of her intention to establish a strong media strategy for the IPSC and develop a media team.

The IPSC is an independent solidarity organisation, committed to a just and sustainable peace in the Middle East. It was established in 2001 by human rights and community activists, academics and journalists who were deeply concerned with the current situation in the Occupied Territories. In partnership with Palestinians now living in Ireland the IPSC was formed to provide a voice for Palestine in Ireland.