Leo: Boycotts disadvantage our country
LEO Varadkar has said that boycotting events due to Israeli participation could “disadvantage” Ireland.
His comments come as Basketball Ireland was strongly criticised for not pulling the ladies team out of a match with Israel yesterday.
The European qualifying game, which Israel won by 30 points, was marred in controversy after the Irish side were branded anti-semites by their opponents.
Mr Varadkar said that while he “disagreed profoundly” with accusations of anti-semitism by an Israeli player against the Irish women’s basketball team, it was “their decision” if they chose to play the match.
Several Irish players refused to play due to the ongoing situation in Palestine.
There had been calls for Ireland to withdraw from the fixture entirely in the wake of the Israeli team’s decision to pose for photos with IDF soldiers ahead of the game.
On Wednesday, an Israeli player said: “It’s known that they are quite antisemitic and it’s no secret, and maybe that’s why a strong game is expected.
“We have to show that we’re better than them and win. We talk about it among ourselves.”
Asked about the comments on Newstalk, Mr Varadkar said that he “disagrees profoundly” with the antisemitism suggestion.
The Taoiseach told Pat Kenny that “people who disagree with the policies and actions of the Israeli government aren’t anti-semitic”.
He said: “There is a strategy which is employed by extreme Zionists to say that anyone who is critical of Israel is anti-semitic.
“I think that’s profoundly wrong and I think it actually devalues anti-semitism and I fear that it may even start to make anti-semitism acceptable, which would be a terrible thing.”
Asked if he believed the women’s basketball team should play the match against Israel, the Taoiseach did not give his opinion but indicated that he is against boycotts.
He said: “Ultimately, that is their decision. But I’ve a very clear view on the general issue of boycotts.
“Whether it’s sport, whether it’s music, whatever it is, I don’t think we should disadvantage ourselves.”