Laois politician who 'always admired Israel' on multiple trips now 'disgusted'

A Laois politician has revealed his admiration for Israel that has changed to "disgust" since their genocidal acts in Palestine.

Speaking in Laois County Council after a colleague proposed a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Buggy from the Portlaoise Municipal District said he has visited Israel up to eight times.

"I always had great admiration for Israel. I'm sickened not by the people but the Government. Netanyahu has always been a troublemaker. After the US election he was allowed to run amok.

"The last time I was in Jerusalem, I saw the hardships they were living under. It was apartheid I was there a year and ten months ago before the trouble started. I was in the West Bank, meeting both Palestinians and Israelis. I never felt as safe. A few days later all hell broke loose.

"I condemn Hamas, but I'm starting to think they were allowed in, to trigger what took place. 

"The Occupied Territories Bill is something we have to do even though there will be a financial fallout," Cllr Buggy said.

Labour party Cllr Marie Tuohy's motion asks for Laois County Council to support President Higgins and the Government's calls for a permanent ceasefire, release of all hostages and access to aid from the UN, Red Cross and WHO.

"It is a simple, desperate, compassionate plea from us here in Laois County Council to add our small voice to the chorus of those begging for the slaughter and bloodshed in Gaza, the West Bank and the wider Middle East to end.

"It is an appeal on behalf of the mothers of Gaza and their children. For the medics, for the media trying to report who are being gunned down. We beg all those in power to think of their own mothers, of their own children, to look into their own hearts, regardless of what god they pray to, and bring this barbaric slaughter of the innocent to an end."

Cllr Tuohy described it as "a televised genocide", condemning "the daily unlawful killing of families queuing for food".

"We cannot say we didn't know. It's ethnic cleansing, its a land grab, it's genocide.

"We call on the Government to redouble all its efforts, despite the pushback from some in the EU, who should be ashamed of themselves to put trade ahead of lives of innocent civilians".

Cllr Tuohy praised the Laois branch of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign whose recent fundraisers funded a mobile maternity unit, now arrived in Gaza.

"I pray that the babies born in there live in peace," Cllr Tuohy said.

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Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh said all the councillors support her motion.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley had seconded it.

"It's shocked people to the core on a daily basis. It's not just babies dying, it's mothers, young men burying their entire families. I'm in Brussels regularly and I'm yet to hear Gaza come up there, they just don't seem to want to take it on. It's double standards when you see how we all rightly support Ukraine.

"Netanyahu is the greatest terrorist we have seen in living history. I hope we see the day this fella is brought to justice. It is ethnic cleansing. It is genocide," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan warned "the West Bank is next, the Knesset voted to claim its lands".

"Tens of thousands of Palestinian hostages have been rounded up. It's been a living hell for a year and 10 months for all Palestinians. Trump gave the green light to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth," he said.

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Cllr John King noted that "to see all the food wasted in Ireland, it would keep a lot of young children alive".

"To see children going with saucepans, who have lost their mothers, they will never live a normal life, the damage is done. When you take the lives of young people you take away the future," Cllr King said.