People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin
Councillor Shaun Harkin was responding to a series of meetings held recently where representatives of both parties met and shared platforms with US pro-Israeli and pro-genocide politicians.
“Queens University students were attacked by the PSNI in order to prevent disruption of a conference sponsored by US corporation Lockheed Martin, the largest supplier of weaponry on the planet,” said the Foyleside councillor.
“The conference was attended by SDLP leader Claire Hanna and Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew who both agreed to share a platform with Hillary Clinton, one of the arch advocates for Israel among the US political establishment.
“The sponsorship of Lockheed Martin should have been enough to keep our politicians away.
“The presence of Clinton who recently described the bombings of refugee children in tents as ‘Part of Israel’s self defense’ should have meant that no one who supports BDS would be in attendance.
“SDLP Mayor Lilian Senoi Barr met with leading pro-Israeli politicians including Sen. Tim Kennedy and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on a Council sponsored trade mission.
“Kennedy is a New York Senator who has received large sums of money from pro-Israel lobbyists AIPAC and was regarded as key person for the group to get re-elected in order to further Israel’s political voice.
“Councillor Barr invited Kennedy to Derry, a move which was roundly condemned by Palestine solidarity campaigners, including the IPSC.
“Governor Healey regularly speaks at events espousing support for Israel and has opposed any reduction in the US arming of the Israeli Occupation Forces, despite clear violations of US human rights laws and charges of systematic war crimes.
“The SDLP and Sinn Féin know BDS is popular so they maintain a facade of support for it.
“However, their hypocrisy is laid bare in every meeting they have with those who support the genocide in Gaza.
“The hypocrisy becomes truly stinking when meetings are sponsored by the company supplying the weapons of mass destruction that have wiped out Gaza.
“People Before Profit see BDS as the key, non-violent means of resisting apartheid Israel.
“BDS is far too important to be a tokenistic plaything for the main political parties to pick and choose the bits that fit their agendas.
“It’s not so long ago that Foyle MP Colum Eastwood donned a black shamrock and declared himself to be an MP for Gaza.
“How can he be an MP for Gaza when his party colleagues are attending meetings with those who destroyed it?
“Sinn Féin and the SDLP quite simply have to decide which side they are on? ”
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