Ireland, the US and the Middle East

Sir, – Taoiseach Simon Harris is reported in The Irish Times as saying, “I have absolutely no doubt at all that the president of the United States of America is desperately trying to bring about a ceasefire” in the Middle East (“‘Major jeopardy’: Harris condemns Iran’s missile attack on Israel”, News, October 2nd).

It is difficult to understand where this wide-eyed confidence in the United States comes from. We heard similar assurances when the Israeli military began its horrendous assault on Gaza. However, despite repeated and egregious breaches of international humanitarian law, Joe Biden in fact continued his policy of “ironclad” support for Israel and there was no evidence of “restraint”. Gaza was utterly flattened. Material US assistance included many of the bombs and missiles that landed on schools, hospitals, UN facilities and refugee camps, leaving more than 42,000 people dead.

With the massacre in Gaza ongoing, the invasion of Lebanon now under way, and Binyamin Netanyahu openly talking about regime change in Tehran, it is about time that “ironclad” US support for the dangerous nuclear-armed state of Israel is recognised fully for the damage it brings about. Governments that claim to want peace in the Middle East need to be less credulous about the role played by the US. It is far from a neutral party. And understandable antipathy to the self-serving and oppressive regime in Iran should not blind people to the consequences of an all-out regional war.

In particular, the Government here needs to be less reticent about criticising US military and political support for Israel. This means, of course, that the Irish State must overcome its crippling fear of US disapproval. – Yours, etc,

READ SOME MORE