Ireland vs Israel - To play or not to play, that is the question Read OP for Mod Warning

Would you agree the latter is more serious than the former?

No the former is far far more serious for countries in Europe.

I understand your point, but I disagree.

The Israel Palestine conflict/slaughter/genocide/annexation/plantation (take your pick) doesn't raise any sovereignty issues for any European countries. It's why for all the death, there has been no serious co ordinated talk of isolating Israel akin to Russia.

I agree. But there should have been.

We grew up hearing the phrase "Never again" and then we learned exactly where that came from and what it was to mean for the human race. But we've seen many countries and people who should no this history all too well ignore that reality and not just permit Israel to do what they have done, but have supported them in doing so in various ways. That allows a very dangerous precedent to be set and undermines the institutions which ordinarily should be used to set good examples worldwide, not just on their doorstep.

The UN has almost been entirely undermined, and this is in no small way because of the actions of Israel and it's main supporter the US towards it as a ruling institute. That same UN should be the primary mechanism to enforce peace and justice between countries around the world, but it can no longer be relied to do that. And look at what America has descended to do in the short space of time of the last 12 months without fear of being held to account in any way.

All of this will ultimately mean at some point that Europe is more at risk than it was in the recent past or than it should be going forward, all the remains to be seen is exactly who is the aggressor towards it. Hell, we've already seen an example of this starting to occur with the Greenland fiasco.

Irish people need to stop taking sides in this, because there are no goodies and badies here.

70K people have been killed in Gaza since Oct7th, 1000 in the West Bank. This is on top of decades of the Palestinians suffering persecution, murder and having their lands systematically stolen. All without them being able to have an airport, to control and use their sea border, to have dependable, sufficient supplies of food and medical supplies.

If you can't look at this and see the actions of one side categorically justifies the taking of sides to call a halt to all this, you should really stop and have a think about why that is the case.

And it's the correct approach when it comes to Israel.

Because they are victims of violence and aggression.

Are you for real? You're talking about Hamas right? Israel has killed 1000 Palestinians in the West Bank since Oct 7th. Guess what doesn't exist in the West Bank. Hamas. Israel has killed 70000 people because of the 1200 killed on Oct 7th with the argument "Israel has the right to defend itself". Does Palestine have the right to defend itself? Who should act in their defence? How should they do so?

And most of the right thinking people of the world are aware of that, with the exception of some delusional Irish.

You think?

These are protests in Melbourne, Auckland, Singapore, Paris, Madrid, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto and Dallas.

The whole "River to the Sea" thing you hear from Palestinians and their supporters is all about the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people.

What about when Likud used in their charter? And when Nethanyahu went to the UN with a map of Israel covering all Palestinian land? Or when Mick Huckabee this week spoke about the God given right for Israel to assume control of all the land in the Middle East.

And in years or decades to come the geopolitical shoe may be on the other foot and the Palestinians and their allies may have the upper hand.

In the decades to come, everyone will claim to have been against what Israel has done. It is one of the greatest tragedies of failure from most countries in the Western World that they have facilitated and permitted them to do so.

If Ireland do decide to not play Israel, they will likely experience some short to medium term vitriol and consequences for doing so. They will absolutely lauded for having done so at some point in future. I am quite sure of that.

This is all true. Lindsey Graham, the US senator came out and named Ireland directly when the FAI called for Israel to be banned from competitions last year.

But it's partly because this is true, that Ireland (and others) should act. One thing we have seen irrefutably over the last few years is just because you appease a bully, it doesn't mean that they improve their behaviour.

Ireland plays Germany regularly, a country that carried out a genocide. Are you ok with that?

Ffs. What a ludicrous post. If you dont know the difference between carried out 80 years ago and carrying out now, there's no talking to you.

And I note you qualify yiur statement with respect to Gaza by saying the Bombing has stopped rather than the "killing" has stopped.

A - Israel is persecuting Palestinians in many ways, not just killing them, which they obviously are still doing.

B - The bombings haven't stopped.

C - Talking about Afghanistan is just an attempt at deflection which was responded to