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Irish Leaders Boycott White House St. Patrick’s Day Events Over Palestine Concerns

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Irish, leaders, skip, St., Patrick’s, Day, celebrations, U.S., protest, President, Donald, Trump, calling, displacement, Palestinians, Gaza, diplomatic, relations, abroad, particularly, annual, trip, Washington, D.C., commemorates, historic, cultural, ties, countries, year, prime minister, Taoiseach, Micheál, Martin, represent, Ireland, without, Sinn, Féin, leader, Mary, Lou, McDonald, Northern, Ireland, First, Minister, Michelle, ONeill, followed, growing, concern, whats, happening, ground, West, Bank, like, many, Irish, people, listened, horror, calls, President, United, States, mass, expulsion, Palestinian, people, homes, permanent, seizure, Palestinian, lands, approach, fundamental, breach, international, law, deeply, destabilizing, Middle, East, dangerous, departure, U.N., position, peace, security, both, Israelis, right, Palestinians, self-determination, TRUMP’S, GAZA, RELOCATION, PROPOSAL, SPARKS, HEATED, DEBATE, AMONG, PALESTINIANS, NO, LIFE, LEFT, HERE, acknowledging, important, opportunity, reinforce, U.S., Ireland’s, relationship, McDonald, decided, attend, White, House, events, year, principled, stance, against, call, mass, expulsion, Palestinian, people, Gaza, O’Neill, echoed, McDonald’s, comments, vowing, maintain, diplomatic, relationships, U.S., taking, stance, against, Trump’s, comments, JOURNALISTS, SOUND, ALARM, OVER, TRUMP’S, PREPOSTEROUS, GAZA, COMMENTS, WARN, ETHNIC, CLEANSING, taken, decision, First, Minister, attend, events, White, House, year, witnessed, heartbreak, devastation, suffering, Palestine, recent, comments, U.S., president, around, mass, expulsion, Palestinian, people, Gaza, something, cannot, ignore, standing, firmly, side, humanity, protesting, Trump, supporting, Palestinian, people, continue, engage, U.S., both, politically, economically, better, peoples, lives, people, rightly, look, leaders, stand, against, injustice, future, children, grandchildren, ask, did, Palestinian, people, endured, unimaginable, suffering, will, say, stood, firmly, side, humanity, McDonald, supported, Martin’s, standing, St., Patrick’s, Day, visit, Washington, D.C., because, prime, minister, more, access, expected, audience, Trump, urged, Martin, use, opportunity, reflect, view, Irish, people, relation, Palestine, support, international, law, reject, threats, mass, expulsion, Palestinian, people, seizures, land, asked, about, boycott, Martin, told, reporters, Sinn, Féin, does, always, does, engages, politics, have, responsibility, country, Northern, Ireland’s, Democratic, Unionist, Party, DUP, called, boycott, reckless, short-sighted, United, States, key, economic, partner, Northern, Ireland, said, DUP, Leader, Rt, Hon, Gavin, Robinson, Turning, away, from, relationship, particularly, time, need, continued, international, support, reckless, move, does, nothing, advance, interests, people, businesses, Northern, Ireland, Trump, said, during, joint, press, conference, Israeli, Prime, Minister, Benjamin, Netanyahu, last, month, U.S., would, take, over, GAZA, STRIP, Trump, also, suggested, relocating, Palestinians, rebuild, Gaza, Riviera, Middle, East, Trump’s, comments, sparked, international, backlash, Ireland, long-time, supporter, Palestinian, independence, many, Irish, draw, parallels, British, occupation, Ireland, Ireland, advocated, full, Palestinian, statehood, two-state, solution, throughout, war, Gaza, Irish, citizens, vocally, opposed, war, Gaza, consistently, protested, support, Palestinians, since, war, began, Sinn, Féin, Irish, Republican, party, historic, connections, Irish, Republican, Army, grown, popularity, power, Ireland, Northern, Ireland, over, past, few, years, Sinn, Féin, believes, Irish, reunification, returning, British-controlled, counties, Northern, Ireland, Irish, rule, Ireland, United, States, deep, strong, bilateral, relations, built, rich, foundation, ancestral, ties, close, economic, diplomatic, political, links, including, long-standing, US, support, peace, island, spokesperson, Irish, government, told, Fox, News, Digital, statement, Ireland, US, significant, mutually, beneficial, economic, relationship, valued, more, one, trillion, euros, Ireland, now, 6th, largest, source, foreign, direct, investment, U.S., investment, Irish, companies, worth, Just, U.S., played, critical, role, ceasefire, negotiations, between, Israel, Hamas, U.S., key, negotiator, Good, Friday, Agreement, between, United, Kingdom, Ireland, ended, decades, conflict, brought, peace, region, Saint, Patrick’s, Day, many, years, served, unique, opportunity, celebrate, culture, business, links, globally, particular, many, strong, links, between, Ireland, US, also, very, important, annual, opportunity, ensure, political, connections, commitments, underpin, peace, process, maintained, look, forward, carrying, tradition this year, added U.S., home, largest, Irish, diaspora, U.S., Ireland, maintained, close, diplomatic, relations, traditional, St., Patrick’s, Day, events, White, House, become, opportunity, celebrate, develop, relationship, Former, President, Joe, Biden, visited, Ireland, Northern, Ireland, president, celebrate, 25th, anniversary, Good, Friday, Agreement

Irish Leaders Boycott St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in the US to Protest Trump’s Gaza Proposal

Dublin, Ireland – Irish leaders have announced their boycott of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the United States this year in protest against President Donald Trump’s call for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. This decision marks a significant departure from tradition, as St. Patrick’s Day is typically a time for Irish leaders to strengthen diplomatic ties with the US, particularly through the annual visit to Washington, D.C.

Principled Stance against Mass Expulsion

The boycott decision was spearheaded by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who expressed deep concern over President Trump’s proposal. She condemned it as a "fundamental breach of international law" and a "dangerous departure" from the UN’s position of peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis.

"Such an approach is deeply destabilizing in the Middle East," McDonald said. "It threatens the right of Palestinians to self-determination and undermines the peace process."

Maintaining Diplomatic Ties, Rejecting Injustice

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill echoed McDonald’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of standing against injustice while maintaining diplomatic relationships with the US.

"I have taken the decision… not to attend events at the White House this year," O’Neill stated. "We have witnessed the heartbreak and devastation in Palestine, and the recent comments by the US president… is something I cannot ignore."

O’Neill asserted her unwavering support for the Palestinian people, declaring, "I will continue to engage with the US… But people rightly look to leaders to stand against injustice."

Irish Support for Palestinian Independence

Ireland has a long-standing history of supporting Palestinian independence, drawing parallels with its own struggle against British occupation. The country has consistently advocated for a two-state solution and full Palestinian statehood.

Irish citizens have also expressed strong opposition to the war in Gaza, organizing protests and demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Ireland-US Bilateral Relations

Despite the boycott, Ireland and the US continue to maintain close bilateral relations, built on ancestral ties, economic cooperation, and diplomatic partnerships. Both countries play significant roles in peace negotiations in the Middle East, including the Good Friday Agreement and ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hamas.

"Ireland and the US have a significant and mutually beneficial economic relationship," a spokesperson for the Irish government noted. "Just as the US has played a critical role in ceasefire negotiations… the US was a key negotiator in the Good Friday Agreement."

Absence of Sinn Féin and O’Neill

The boycott decision means that Taoiseach Micheál Martin will represent Ireland at the White House events without Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill. McDonald has expressed support for Martin’s visit, urging him to convey the Irish perspective on Palestine to President Trump.

Northern Ireland’s Reaction

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland criticized the boycott, calling it "reckless" and "short-sighted." DUP Leader Rt. Hon. Gavin Robinson emphasized the importance of maintaining economic ties with the US.

"Turning away from that relationship, particularly at a time when we need continued international support, is a reckless move that does nothing to advance the interests of people and businesses in Northern Ireland," Robinson said.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Saint Patrick’s Day is an annual celebration of Irish culture and heritage, typically marked by parades, music, and festivities. While the US is home to the largest Irish diaspora, the holiday is observed around the world.

Irish leaders have traditionally used St. Patrick’s Day events in the US to strengthen diplomatic connections and raise awareness of Irish issues. This year’s boycott represents a significant departure from that tradition, highlighting the depth of concern over President Trump’s Gaza proposal and the importance of taking a principled stand against injustice.

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