Allister unleashes verbal assault on Hamas
14 January 2009
Speaking in the debate in Strasbourg on the Gaza situation, Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister verbally lacerated Hamas for its terrorist attacks and made it very clear that in his eyes Hamas is the aggressor. An outspoken supporter of Israel, the Ulster Euro MP drew parallels with the IRA's perfection of the art of spurious victimhood.
In the course of his contribution Mr Allister said:-
"Terrorism, I abhor. The propaganda of terrorism I repudiate. Maybe coming from Northern Ireland heightens my awareness. So, when I hear Hamas bleat about necessary retaliatory action against its years of indiscriminate raining of rockets upon the innocent citizens of Israel, then, I'm unimpressed, because I know that Hamas, like the IRA in my country, are masters of the twin arts of terrorism and propaganda.
The situation is demonstrably clear. Israel accepts a two state solution, Hamas can't even abide its right to exist and thus unleashes relentless terrorist attacks upon its territory. And, when, after much forbearance, Israel hits back, they cry "victim". Sorry, they are the perpetrators and if they want peace the answer lies in their own hand - stop shelling Israel."
