On the afternoon of Tuesday 19th December, Zionism came under serious pressure in Ireland and suffered a blow with a successful action against the Zionist embassy in Dublin.
Over sixty people, including Republican activists from Anti-Imperialist Action Ireland, carried out a protest against the presence of the Zionist embassy and the Free State’s economic and diplomatic ties with “Israel”.
The protest had been organised by Saoirse Don Phalaistín and other solidarity groups and effectively used the element of surprise to shut the Zionist embassy down, much to the embarrassment of the Zionists and the Free State.
The pro-imperialist parliament at Leinster House has refused to represent the will of the vast majority of the Irish people to expel the Zionist ambassador, in the face of Zionism’s intensified genocide against Palestine. With the politicians demonstrating their allegiance lies with the interests of international imperialism, it has passed over to the ordinary people of Ireland to achieve this just aim by their own initiative, to do our duty by the oppressed masses of Palestine in their heroic struggle.
Several protestors gained accessed to the building of the embassy with an eviction notice for the ambassador and her staff on behalf of the Irish people. The genocidal crimes of the entity she represents were given as justification – everyday the people of Dublin are given far less justification for eviction from their homes at the behest of landlords and vultures. The activists made it to the 5th floor but due to security measures in the embassy were unable to serve the eviction notice on the ambassador in Person. The protesters then occupied the front lobby until, within 10-15 minutes, the embassy was flooded with the riot squad who, after stand-off, dragged out the solidarity activists.
The protest proceeded to carry out a three hour blockade of the embassy building, chants such as ‘There is only one solution – Intifada, Revolution!’ and ‘Resistance is an obligation, in the face of occupation’ ringing out across the embassy premises in the chill December evening. A sit-down at the gates of the embassy stopped vehicles entering or exiting. Protesters also put up the eviction notice alongside many images and stories of the Palestinian martyrs onto the wall of the embassy premises.
Knowing the solidarity action would gain widespread sympathy and support, the Gardaí were careful to avoid arrests. However, claiming it was ‘offensive material’, the flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine was seized by Gardaí after an activist refused to put it away, showing the fear which the servants of empire have for this flag of resistance. The protesters pointed out that the bloodsoaked Zionist flag, flying above us, was genuinely offensive to the Irish people.
The mainstream media has carefully avoided reporting on the action, while every move of the far-right against migrants enjoys widespread coverage. Nonetheless the point has been made to Zionism, imperialism, and their allies in Ireland that the Irish people will resist until Zionism and imperialism are removed from our country. Before departing, the protest concluded with a veteran activist reciting a poem for noble Gaza, and the protesters affirmed that they would be back to the embassy and that they would step up the campaign against Zionism in 2024.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!