Allister defends Israel
04 December 2008
Speaking in a debate in the European Parliament, shortly after a narrow vote to postpone a decision on an upgraded EU_Israel Agreement, Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister attacked that decision as the product of an orchestrated campaign by anti-Israeli forces, and once more defended Israel on the floor of the parliament.
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
Jim Allister (NI). – Mr President, some would have us believe that this House today acted out of a crisis of conscience. I must say that I find that strange, considering how many times this House has endorsed agreements without a whimper in respect of countries which indeed have appalling human rights records and which indeed have governmental structures which are far from democratic.
It seems to me that this House was blown off course today by an orchestrated campaign, from without and within, of very considerable venom against the State of Israel, and that we allowed ourselves to be unduly influenced by that. The blind bigotry that some have shown against Israel is quite appalling. Israel is a democracy in a region where democracies are few and far between. It accepts a two-state solution. It has been subjected to the most horrendous external and internal terrorism and, in consequence, it undoubtedly has the right to defend itself.
Some in this House seem so concerned with their angst and hatred of Israel that they are eager to excuse terrorist attacks and, indeed, eager to excuse the excesses of Hamas in Gaza, seeing fault only within the state that is under attack. I think that is wrong.
