Traub and Trócaire

Having recently served as Israeli deputy ambassador to Ireland, Daniela Giulia Traub wrote of her experiences during her service (“The Emerald Island – blue over Israel” (Comment & Features, September 7). She alleged: “The Irish government provides financial assistance through Irish Aid and Trócaire to Palestinian NGOs that are connected to terrorist activities.”

Trócaire is the development organization of the Catholic Church in Ireland. We work in approximately 20 countries around the world, providing support and relief to communities experiencing hunger, marginalization, humanitarian disaster and human rights abuses.

Much of our work is dedicated to protecting innocent civilians from human rights abuses inflicted by armed groups. To allege that we are supportive – and indeed actually fund – terrorist activities in Israel or anywhere else is a gross misrepresentation of our work, work that is generously funded by donations from the Irish public and taxpayers.

Trócaire is proud to work with a number of Israeli organizations. Representatives of these organizations have visited Ireland and told the Irish people in no uncertain terms: “We are proud to be Israeli but we believe that the occupation of the West Bank is damaging the moral fabric of the country we love.”

Ultimately, we believe that occupation damages both the occupied and the occupier. Israel’s policies in this regard seem to be undermining its own security and the international reputation that Ms. Traub and every other Israeli citizen wants to improve.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is a political conflict and can end only when there is a political solution. While we recognize that this is not a simple objective to achieve, we also recognize that a just peace must be based on respect for the fundamental rights of all people.

We look forward to the day when this is achieved for all, Israelis and Palestinians alike. ÉAMONN MEEHAN Maynooth, Ireland The writer is executive director of Trócaire.