‘Enabling horrific behaviour of Israel’ - Longford born Senator rejects US Independence Day invite

Independent senator, Joe Conway, has indicated that he is turning down his Independence Day invitation from the US Embassy.

Senator Conway, who was elected in January this year to the Upper House, outlined his reason to the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Michael Clausen.

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In a handwritten letter to Clausen, he wrote – “Nothing is enabling the horrific behaviour of Israel like the steadfast support of the USA."

The full content is here:

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Dear Mr. Clausen,

I want to thank you for the invitation to your Independence Day celebrations in July.  As a newly elected senator, I should have been happy indeed to accept it.  So, I hope I do not come across as churlish or ungracious, but I feel I must decline it.

It probably will not come as any great surprise to you that this course is taken on foot of events in Gaza and other turmoil in the Middle East.  As I said in the Seanad last week, truckloads of words have serried out in assemblies and media about the conflict there…and will continue to be uttered.  But sometimes we get the chance to embolden a little our words with action, and this is one such time.

Nothing is enabling the horrific behaviour of Israel like the steadfast support of the USA.  And – even though I am a friend, and fond of the American people – I just cannot on this occasion pinch my nose and look the other way.

Le gach dea ghuí beagnach i gcónaí.

JC