MARY Lou McDonald has announced that Sinn Fein will not visit the White House for St Patrick’s Day due to President Donald Trump’s threat to take control of Gaza.
Earlier this month, the U.S President revealed his plan to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and turn the enclave into a “Riviera of the Middle East”.
President Trump made the announcement during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu whose military has flattened large parts of Gaza following the October 7th attack by Hamas that killed more than 1,200 Israelis.
Sinn Fein leaders from both the North and the South traditionally visit the White House as part of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations that sees the Taoiseach hand the U.S President a bowl of shamrock.
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill today announced that they will not be attending the White House this year.
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald said: “I followed with growing concern what is happening on the ground with Gaza and the West Bank and like many other Irish people have listened in horror to calls from the President of the United States for the mass expulsion of Palestinian people from their homes and the permanent seizure of Palestinian lands.
“Such an approach is a fundamental breach of international law, is deeply destabilising in the Middle East and a dangerous departure from the UN position on peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis and the right for Palestinians to self determination.
“The ties between Ireland and the United States are historic and run deep.
“There are deep bonds between Sinn Fein and people in the United States who supported peace and prosperity in Ireland.
“These relationships are valuable and enduring. The US is a valued friend of Ireland. Their work in helping to achieve the Good Friday Agreement stands as a clear example of successful US foreign policy.
“They’re an important partner for peace and play a strong role in Ireland’s economy.
“St Patrick’s Day each year is an important moment to reinforce all of those connections.
“But there is also an onus on us to speak honestly and to act when we believe a US administration is wrong, catastrophically so in the case of Palestine.
“I’ve thought deeply about this issue in recent days and listened to many voices inside and outside of Sinn Fein.
“I’ve made the decision not to attend the event in the White House this year as a principal stance against the call for the mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza – something which I believe demands serious dissent and objection.
MARTIN SHOULD VOICE IRELAND’S VIEWS
“The only route to peace and security is a permanent ceasefire followed by a negotiated settlement that guarantees peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis through a just and sustainable two state solution – that should be the position of the U.S”
The Sinn Fein leader said that Taoiseach Micheal Martin should still attend the White House meeting with President Trump but must voice Ireland’s views to the US President.
She said: “An Taoiseach will attend the White House for his bilateral engagement with the United States President.
“It is he who represents the Irish people and will have the opportunity to speak on behalf of Ireland when he meets the American President.
“He must use this opportunity to reflect the view of the Irish people in relation to Palestine, in support of international law and to reject threats for the mass expulsion of Palestinian people and seizures of their land.”
