Kerry council ‘clinking wine glasses with a genocide supporter' say Palestinian group
The Democratic Congressman representing the 1st District of Massachusetts in the US House of Representatives was honoured for his contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland and his 'enduring and unique relationship' with Kerry where Neal has family links.
Sinn Féin Councillor Deirdre Ferris handed a letter of protest to Congressman Neal prior to the Sunday's reception when voicing opposition to equating the Irish peace process with Neal's ongoing support for Israel's military actions in Gaza.
A crowd of over 60 protesters gathered outside Muckross House for the duration of the civic reception as members of Kerry Friends of Palestine waved Palestinian flags and held signs saying, 'US bombs murder babies in Gaza'.
'We're appalled and it's incredibly disappointing that the council thought this was an appropriate time to bestow the highest honour on a man who is an active voter in the laws that are impacting Palestinians,' said a member of Kerry Friends of Palestine, who does not wish to be named.
Congressman Neal is a staunch supporter of Israel and receives electoral campaign funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). This secures Neal's support in Washington DC for Israel's military defence including its current campaign in Gaza.
In 2017, Congressman Neal was one of 237 House members to support a divisive bill known as the 'Israeli Anti-Boycott Act' designed to levy severe penalties and imprisonment on US citizens who support boycotting Israel.
Neal is firmly opposed to international efforts to 'isolate, boycott and delegitimises' Israel on the international stage. The congressman's Kerry visit is seen as hypocritical by many here as it comes at a time when the Irish government is still dithering over passing the Occupied Territories Bill.
Neal is on record as saying peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Following the October 7 attacks by Hamas in 2023 that killed over a thousand innocent Israelis, Congressman Neal called the attacks 'horrific' and said Israel has the right to defend itself with the United States standing firmly with its ally.
'He is part of a group who support Israeli influence within Congress. Can Kerry County Council not deal in ethical trade and communications? Of course tourism is needed massively. But Neal's ties to Kerry and his role in the peace process doesn't mean that we look away from what he is actively guilty of now,' she said.
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Kerry Friends of Palestine also criticised Cathaoirleach Breandán Fitzgerald for saying Congressman Neal was a peace advocate for the Middle East. It said Neal has consistently refused to sign legislation calling for a ceasefire in the current war.
'Neal's name was left off of all of those ballots. It's not like we need to question what we're seeing. This is reality TV, it's livestreamed and you cannot avoid it. Every single second of this is documented and shared throughout the world,' she said.
"To host a man and be clinking wine glasses with an Israeli genocide supporter while this man is okaying the obliteration of children, men and women with no access to water and food. It's a disgrace to every single thing we should be proud of as a country,' she added.
Cathaoirleach Breandán Fitzgerald could not be contacted for a comment. Kerry County Council has also been asked for a response.
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