Bride and groom join pro-Palestine protest in Dublin

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

A bride and groom joined a demonstration in support of a bill that proposes economic sanctions on Israel in Dublin on Tuesday.

Newlyweds Ellen Malone and Roberto Macari from Dublin stopped by the rally outside Leinster House in their suit and gown.

The protest was organised by People Before Profit as their bill, the Sanctions Against the State of Israel Bill, came before the Dáil.

It proposes to prohibit all trade, investment, financial dealings and state-linked economic activity with Israel.

What is happening in Palestine “puts into perspective what’s really important”, the new Mrs Macari said.

Mr Macari said: “We’re known as the nation that’s been through similar … it’s always good to show your support.”

The couple are “with each other” on the subject, he added.

Mrs Macari also said she hoped Dr Margaret Connolly, the President’s sister, would be released from Israeli detention.

Dr Connolly is one of at least 14 Irish people, taking part in the global sumud flotilla, who are being held by Israel after their boats were intercepted, flotilla organisers say.

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee previously told the Dáil the sanctions bill would amount to a blanket prohibition on trade in all goods and certain services between Ireland and Israel.

“The Government does not support that approach, although we fully recognise the right of individuals and indeed organisations to make their own decisions in this regard,” she said.

A previous separate bill, the Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban trade from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, has not been enacted despite being proposed in 2018.

Ms McEntee said on Monday she hoped there would be an EU vote on trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territories and said it would have a “greater impact” than if Ireland acted alone.

Speaking to Press Association at the demonstration, People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett said the Government is “hiding behind” Europe.

He said the “impunity” Israel has been granted by governments has “emboldened them”.

“I don’t see any prospect of countries like Germany ending their complicity with the state of Israel,” he said.

“It’s countries like Germany are blocking any action by the European Union.”

“So governments like ours, if they’re serious about being appalled at the atrocities being committed by Israel, they need to act, and Spain and Slovenia have acted, so why can’t our government act?”

Speakers at the rally included opposition politicians and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham, who led the crowd in a chant of “Free Palestine”.