‘Hateful comments’ on Netanyahu’s stopover

ON November 10 you published an article headlined ‘Netanyahu’s Shannon stopover sparks criticism’, concerning the brief touchdown by the Israeli prime minister.

The article extensively quoted a member of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign and a member of Shannonwatch. Both groups are known to be extremely biased against Israel. The quotations by these “activists” completely dominated the article.

The reporter did not question or corroborate what they said, and did not contact an Israeli source for the sake of balance.

I am surprised that a newspaper as reputable as the Irish Examiner would become a platform for extremist groups in Ireland. It is outrageous that hateful comments against the stopover of the prime minister of a fellow democratic state should be given such prominence.

Despite the allegations by those featured in the article, the facts are that Israel remains committed to peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly stressed his desire for immediate negotiations without any preconditions; it is the Palestinians who are stalling.

Israel’s goal remains the same – two states for two peoples, the existing state of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people and a future Palestinian state as the homeland of the Palestinian people.

Zion Evrony

Ambassador of Israel

Embassy of Israel

Dublin