Palestine group slams Kerry senator for meeting controversial US congressman
Congressman Mast was in Ireland last month where he met with Senator Mark Daly – chair of the Seanad Éireann – to discuss trade, technology investment, defence, and other issues 'vital to America's relationship with Ireland'.
The United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman signed the Seanad visitors' book during his visit.
The Florida Republican is known for his controversial views on Palestinians which were the subject of a House of Representatives resolution that was referred to the Committee on Ethics in 2023.
Mr Mast, who once volunteered to serve alongside the Israel Defence Forces in support of its defence of democracy in the Middle East, served in the US Army for more than 12 years, earning him the Army Commendation Medal for Valour and the Purple Heart.
In 2023, the Congressman was censured for inflammatory statements he made regarding innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza suffering as a result of the horrific attacks conducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
He said humanitarian aid to Palestinians should be slowed down and that terrorism is 'absolutely supported by the Palestinian people from elementary school all the way up into the elderly.'
On November 1, 2023 – during a speech on the House Floor – Representative Mast compared innocent Palestinian civilians and children to 'Nazi' collaborators that perpetrated the Holocaust against the Jewish people. He also stated that 'there are very few innocent Palestinian civilians'.
Congressman Mast is regularly accused of conflating innocent Palestinians with the actions of Hamas, which some fellow congressmen have said 'sends a message to the world' that violence against all Palestinians is legitimate.
Kerry Friends of Palestine Group criticised Senator Daly for meeting Congressman Mast in the Seanad in late April, saying it was ill-judged and showed disregard for the lives of innocent Palestinians.
'It's vile to have someone like Mast sidling up to Irish politicians for photographs given his views. Senator Daly looked only too happy to accommodate him,' said a spokesperson for Kerry Friends of Palestine Group.
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"Mast has called for the destruction of innocent Palestinians. It's disgusting that he would be welcomed here and allowed such an opportunity to grandstand as a politician of repute when he is not,' he added.
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