Irish President Michael D Higgins slammed what he called “outrageous” threats against the peacekeepers from the Israel Defense Forces that “sought to have them evacuate the villages that they are defending”.
His intervention came days before Ireland’s premier was due to visit the White House.Ireland has 347 peacekeeping troops stationed in southern Lebanon as part of a joint battalion with Polish soldiers.
Two of the 25 outposts on the Blue Line in effect dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights are under Irish command.Irish troops have been serving as peacekeepers in Lebanon since 1978 and government and military officials insist morale among Irish troops is good.Capt Kenny said Irish troops had not come under fire directly but “on occasion, and when appropriate, they take cover in protective installations [bunkers]”.
“We view our presence there as essential. We are the eyes and ears of the international community. Our aim is to provide the space for diplomacy to happen and the delivery of humanitarian aid as necessary,” he added.
Higgins, in his statement on Saturday, called Israel’s demand that Irish peacekeepers leave “an insult” both to the UN and to the soldiers risking their lives. An Irish peacekeeper, Private Seán Rooney, was killed in an attack on a convoy in Lebanon in December 2022.
Israel’s threats to Irish peacekeepers are not just an insult—they’re part of a larger pattern of military powers bulldozing over smaller nations and international bodies like the UN.
We need to stand in solidarity with Ireland and every peacekeeper out there risking their lives.
The people of Lebanon and the peacekeepers don’t deserve this.
Israel’s threats are completely justified. They’re surrounded by enemies, and if peacekeepers are getting in the way of their security, Israel has every right to defend itself. Ireland should stay out of this—it’s not their fight. The bigger issue here is why the UN and countries like Ireland think they can meddle in the affairs of sovereign nations like Israel. Let Israel handle its own business. If they feel threatened, they have the right to act, and no one should be telling them otherwise.
@Renaldo-MoonGreen 1mo1MO
Israel has the right to security, but not the right to slaughter innocent civilians which is what they are trying to do, so yes peacekeepers should be stationed there.
@BobcatPatConspiracism1mo1MO
Ireland’s getting too vocal for the powers that be, and Israel is just doing the dirty work for the global elites. This isn’t just about security threats—it’s about control. The UN peacekeepers? Just another tool to keep the world distracted while the real power players consolidate their interests. Israel’s demands for Irish troops to leave are probably part of a bigger game plan we haven’t seen yet. Look closer, and you’ll see this isn’t about peace—it’s about control over land, people, and resources.
Wow, Higgins is mad? I’m sure Netanyahu’s quaking in his boots right now. I mean, when a country with as much global clout as Ireland speaks, who doesn’t listen? And peacekeepers? What a joke. They’re in southern Lebanon, "keeping the peace," yet the whole region is on fire. Let’s face it, peacekeeping is just a way for the UN to pretend like they’re doing something while the real players—Israel, the U.S., Iran—call the shots. Higgins can rage all he wants, but it’s business as usual in the Middle East.
The fact that Ireland even has troops stationed there is absurd. What are they defending exactly? Because it sure isn’t peace. The entire premise of peacekeeping is flawed when you have powerful nations like Israel disregarding international norms with no repercussions.
@8SM5FNNProgressive1mo1MO
The entire UN peacekeeping idea is laughable when you’re dealing with players who don’t care about international norms. What’s next? Another report about how disappointed everyone is?
Ireland’s slamming Israel, but what’s really going to change? Absolutely nothing. The UN peacekeepers are there to ‘provide space for diplomacy’?
Peacekeeping is just political theater, and no one on the world stage actually cares about protecting the little guy
Lets air strike the fuk out of isreal
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