How its history of oppression has shaped its empathy toward Palestine

The Irish Seanad (Senate) recently voted unanimously to ban the use of Irish airspace to deliver weapons to Israel. While this bill still needs to be passed in Ireland’s elected parliament before becoming law, it reflects the consistent solidarity between the people of Palestine and the people of Ireland. In many ways, as the assault on Gaza has progressed since last October, Ireland has shown itself again and again to be the conscience of Western Europe.

The ruling coalition in the Irish Dail (Parliament) has largely toed the line of the European Union, but the opposition Sinn Fein party has passionately spoken out for an end to the slaughter in Gaza. Irish President Michael D. Higgins has also made numerous appeals to the international community for the respect of Palestinian human rights.

Ireland’s support for Palestinians goes back decades. In 1980, Ireland became the first European nation to endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state, and it has since taken steps to recognize Palestinian statehood. This goal has yet to be accomplished, but Ireland........

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