SF and DUP clash over Abbas speech
Visit: Declan Kearney THE DUP has challenged Sinn Fein to condemn a speech by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas which has been criticised as anti-Semitic.
In the address, Mr Abbas said the treatment of European Jews during the Holocaust “was not because of their religious identity” but “against their social function which relates to usury and banking and such”.
He cited what he said were books by “Jewish Zionist authors” for the claim, which was made during a 90-minute speech to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) parliament in Ramallah.
Sinn Fein chairman Declan Kearney, who was present for the speech on Monday, tweeted pictures from outside the event with the text, saying: “Wide-ranging speech from President Abbas on peace process.”
DUP MP Paul Girvan said the speech was widely criticised as anti-Semitic and he challenged Sinn Fein to condemn it.
Last night Mr Kearney hit back, although he did not condemn the remarks by Mr Abbas.
He said: “Unlike the DUP, Sinn Fein and I have a consistent position of opposition to all forms of hatred, intolerance and bigotry, which includes sectarianism, racism and homophobia in Ireland, anti-Semitism, and the apartheid systems and policies practised against the Palestinian people by the Israeli state.
“The DUP rejected Sinn Fein’s proposals on anti-sectarianism during the last round of Stormont talks, as well as implementation of marriage equality and Irish language legislation. Paul Girvan would be better explaining these untenable positions instead of making unfounded comments.”
Former US Secretary of State John Kerry tweeted: “These comments are wrong, ugly, and unacceptable — anywhere from anyone — but particularly from anyone who says he wants to be a peacemaker.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called the comments “anti-Semitic and pathetic”, while Michael Oren, Israel’s deputy minister for diplomacy, tweeted: “Mahmoud Abbas says money-lending Jews provoked Holocaust... now there’s a peace partner.”