Why did Micheál Martin invite the Israeli ambassador to the FF Ard Fheis?

Peter Flynt

This seems very strange and is almost certainly going to cost FF a ton of votes.

Why did Martin invite the Israeli ambassador to the FF ard fheis?

Is Martin throwing his lot in with the US/Israel on Palestine in order to secure a job in the EU post GE?

I'd imagine many in FF are absolutely furious with Martin on this.

ax530

I'd imagine it easier to get a point across to someone in a room rather then a press release/ tweet. Maybe hope is ambassador can read the room.

gipi

Maybe the invitation was made before the current situation, and just wasn't rescinded?

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058321149/why-did-micheal-martin-invite-the-israeli-ambassador-to-the-ff-ard-fheis

It's called politics and diplomacy. Unlike SF, Micheál realises you need diplomatic relations to secure agreements. They'll lose no votes on this particular issue. Your imagination seems far removed from the feeling on the ground.

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327044#Comment_121327044

Utter nonsense.

FF and Martin will regret this.

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327054#Comment_121327054

International diplomacy?

I love the way FFers try to sound clever.

This wasn't a speech at the UN. This was a speech to the Irish people on the future of their country.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327090#Comment_121327090

You don't seem to get how diplomacy works. I'm no FFer, and never was, but he has done nothing to cause any backlash except to seemingly annoy SF.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058321149/why-did-micheal-martin-invite-the-israeli-ambassador-to-the-ff-ard-fheis

Because politicians generally operate off diplomacy, meetings, dialogue, resolution; not knee/jerk social media type dialogue.

rdser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327316#Comment_121327316

Well I'm most definitely not Sinn fein and I'm really annoyed at this. It's an ard fheis, not a diplomatic event or a speech to the un. Disgraceful but micheal Martin is utterly woeful in any case so nearly to be expected from him at this stage.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058321149/why-did-micheal-martin-invite-the-israeli-ambassador-to-the-ff-ard-fheis

almost certainly going to cost FF a ton of votes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327044#Comment_121327044

They'll lose no votes on this particular issue. 

Both overegging it but I'd say Jim is a lot nearer the truth than Peter...

enricoh

Think a fair percentage of our American MNCs are linked to Israel. Paddy Cosgrove found out recently which side his bread was buttered on.

Quin_Dub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327772#Comment_121327772

##Mod Note##

Banned

PVNevin

And it's not only FF bending the knee to the butchers of Palestinian children.

SF also know who they serve, and forget MacDonald's weasel rationale. SF is a pillar of the establishment.

Heated debate in Belfast City Council over Gaza-Israel (belfastmedia.com)

deirdremf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327033#Comment_121327033

Very likely this is true.

The question is surely whether the invitation should have been withdrawn. IMO she whould have been tolld she was unwelcome at the Ard Fheis. MM is minister for Foreign Affairs - he should also be telling her she is unwelcome in the country, for voicing opinions on national politics. If Israel is unhappy with our international stance, the way to deal with that is for the Israeli government to send a note to the Irish ambassador to Israel, who will forward it to our Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Having the Ambassador at the Ard Fheis at a time like this is tantamount to FF saying that they support her government's position; which as a political party they are entitled to do. But some of their remaining supporters will choose not to vote for them next time round.

deirdremf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121327772#Comment_121327772

Would you ever get over yourself.

MM may be, in many people's opinion, a slimeball, but I have never seen anything to suggest what you say is true.

rock22

FF invited all diplomatic corps to its' Árd Fheis not just the Israeli ambassador. Apparently all parties do the same. So no big story. And His position has not changed on the need for a ceasefire and , long term , for a two state solution.

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121330722#Comment_121330722

It's complete and utter nonsense that diplomats are generally invited to Ard Fheiseanna. Party conferences are generally piss ups where the big wigs in the party mix with the little people (the people who knock on doors to canvass for votes) with a serious side too as the leader gets half hour prime time on RTE to declare his/her plans to the country. This is particularly important at present as there are three national elections in the next 12-14 months. Canvassers are already out there.

It's very possible that FF/Martin invited the Israeli Ambassador BEFORE October 7th (because Martin wants a big US affiliated job or one in Europe when FF go down the toilet next year) and he was left in no position to refuse her attendance thereafter.

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121331755#Comment_121331755

I've been to Ard Fheiseanna. You won't find masses of diplomats there.

It may surprise you to know that the Ambassador for Djibouti ain't too concerned what the Tanaiste is going to do about current teacher shortages in Ireland.

Also feel free to look at the film (available on RTE player) and circle/outline how many ambassadors of the other 193 countries of the world were present.

rock22

"Also feel free to look at the film (available on RTE player) and circle/outline how many ambassadors of the other 193 countries of the world were present."

As this thread was started by you on a totally false premise, then I suggest you do your own research. FF and MM have stated that the whole diplomatic corps were invited. If you can refute that and point to only the Israeli ambassador being invited then present the proof here.

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121332080#Comment_121332080

I don't need to research. Like I state have been to Ard Fheiseanna.

People who state that Ard Fheiseanna are some sort of diplomatic events are talking out their arses - either that or desperately trying to cover up for FF/Martin.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121332186#Comment_121332186

Both the Israeli and the Palestinian Ambassadors attended the FF Ard Fheis. Probably a sign of the FF commitment to neutrality.

However, SF have never and will never invite the Israeli Ambassador to theirs. So much for SF and neutrality.

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121342687#Comment_121342687

Ireland is not a neutral country

Donald Trump

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121344111#Comment_121344111

Ireland has a policy of neutrality.

Larbre34

Ireland is not neutral. Ireland is militarily non-aligned, but is very much politically aligned, so neutrality is a redundant term.

All Irish parties invite all the Diplomatic Corps to their Ard Fheiseanna. Its common in many Countries as a demonstration of open democracy and to allow the Embassies keep their Nations apprised of current events and political developments.

The DC members can choose to attend or not. This is nothing specifically to do with FF or Israel.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121351010#Comment_121351010

It is more pertinent to ask why Sinn Fein departed from Ireland's policy of neutrality and didn't invite the Ambassador of Israel to their Ard Fheis.

Quin_Dub

##Mod Note##

Multiple below standard posts removed.

Up the standards please

quokula

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121356300#Comment_121356300

I really don't think affording special privileges to the ambassador of a single country that is actively committing crimes against humanity every day would be an expression of Ireland's neutrality.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121376703#Comment_121376703

It is not special privileges. And they had the Hamas Ambassador there while 8-year old Irish girls were being held hostage by his people.

Neutrality isn't a difficult concept, but if you start ignoring one side or expelling Ambassadors from one side, you are departing from neutrality, you are taking sides. Your post has proved the case that Sinn Fein were taking sides.

FrancieBrady

There is absolutely nothing in our position of neutrality that precludes calling out the blatant breaking of International Law or genocidal acts by other countries.

Neutrality doesn't mean we ignore these things, that's ridiculous. There are Ambassadors of countries FF or Ireland would never invite to speak here neutrality or not.

Sadly we now have the photos of an Irish leader smiling and shaking the hand of Netanyahu, knowing what is going on, just as we have one of Coveney smiling and shaking the hand of Sergei Labrov, knowing that the Russians had invaded and annexed part of a sovereign country.

The Israel/Palestinian situation did not begin in October, and SF's position has been a long standing one. Not sure why there is surprise at it.

*It's also hilarious that @blanch152 would reference the 'Palestinian ambassador' attending the FF Ard Fheis who turns into the 'Hamas ambassador' when they go to the SF Ard Fheis.

whisky_galore

It's not going to cost them votes, most people will not care one way or the other. Tbh to sit through all the interminable speeches of an Ard Fheis sounds more like punishment.