Pro-Palestine activists protest the presence of Israeli Mouthpiece Dor Gold on UCD Campus

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Wednesday April 14, 2010 12:53 by Freda H and Kev - IPSC

Yesterday evening pro-Palestine groups staged a protest against the presence of former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dore Gold and Israeli Embassy delegates at the Clinton Institute in University College Dublin. Gold, who also served as an advisor to Ariel Sharon during the years 2001 – 2003 (years which saw vicious repression of Palestinians during the second intifada, including Operation ‘Defensive Shield’ which killed over 500 people in three weeks), was engaged in an Israeli *hasbara* operation, giving a lecture on the ‘two state solution’ to a small select invite-only audience. One presumes – given that we were not allowed inside - arguing for a Palestinian Bantustan statelet and the primacy of Israeli ‘security concerns’ over the right to Palestinian self-determination.

Protesters assembled at front entrance to Clinton Institute

Despite the extremely short notice of the lecture – we found out only hours before it was to take place – almost 30 pro-Palestine activists turned up to protest the presence in UCD of this apologist for Israeli war crimes . Groups represented were Students in Solidarity UCD, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Free Gaza Ireland, éirígí and the Socialist Workers Party.

Gold arrived early to avoid protesters, as befits him, scurrying through a side door as protesters were arriving at the front of the building. Protesters distributed leaflets to, and attempted to engage with, those entering. Although Zion Evrony, Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, was not seen entering the building several representatives from the embassy including Ruth Zach and Derek O’Flynn did attend.

Lest anyone accuse those present of trying to prevent free speech it must be noted that protesters did not blockade the venue nor attempt to prevent anyone from entering. Those assembled were merely assuring representatives of the Israeli rogue state that they are unwelcome so long as the state they shill for continues to abuse Palestinians and deny them their legitimate rights and freedoms – including the right to self-determination.

It was interesting to note the large presence of Gardai and Special Branch ‘policing’ the event (not to mention the private security present too). In the midst of this terrible recession in which we are told we must all tighten our belts and accept cuts left, right and centre, the State can apparently afford to waste taxpayers money ‘protecting’ an apologist for Israeli war crimes and apartheid from peaceful protesters.

Indeed, upon leaving the lecture - to chants of ‘Shame, Shame on the War Crime State’, ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Give Us Back Our Passports’ - Gold himself was whisked away in a Garda car! When the car returned, Caoimhe Butterly of the Free Gaza Movement asked the Garda who escorted Gold back to hole he crawled out of how he felt about ferrying around a representative of the State that used Irish passports to extrajudicially assassinate a Hamas member in Dubai . Alas, predictably, the Garda made no comment in response.

Speaking at the protest, IPSC Spokesperson Freda Hughes told those assembled: “It is important that we are here today, so that wherever these apologists for Apartheid Israel seek to mislead and propagandise they know that people of conscience will be there to call them on their lies and expose the reality of Israel’s innumerable and unending crimes against the Palestinian people”.

Conal, one of the SIS members present observed: “ After last years Israeli massacre in Gaza left over 1400 people dead, not to mention the ongoing siege that leaves people without basic necessities it is scandalous that UCD authorities would allow this man to speak on campus. They should be utterly ashamed of themselves. It is high time for an academic boycott of Israel.”

IPSC would like to thank all the groups and individuals that attended at such short notice, it was especially good to see so many young people mobilisising at such short notice.

This Saturday, April 17th,is Palestinian Prisoners Day. The IPSC in conjunction with eirigi will be holding a demonstration in solidarity with all Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails at 2pm at the Israeli Embassy, 122 Pembrook Road, Dublin 4.

* Hasbara refers to the propaganda efforts to sell Israel, justify its actions, and defend it in world opinion. Using contemporary euphemisms, it is Public diplomacy for Israel, or using a pejorative interpretation, then it is apologia. Israel portrays itself as fighting on two fronts: the Palestinians and world opinion. The latter is dealt with hasbara. The premise of hasbara is that Israel's problems are a matter of better propaganda, and not one of an underlying unjust situation. (http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hasbara)

Students in Solidarity

Caoimhe Butterly

Freda Hughes

Garda car awaits Dor Gold in order to help him make a quick exit from the building