Israel Mairead Maguire

1 israel

1.1 mordechai vanunu advocacy
1.2 references holocaust
1.3 palestinian activism

israel

a 2013 profile of maguire in progressive noted hasn’t lost passion yet , israeli occupation of palestine has occupied of attention in recent years.

mairead maguire first visited israel @ age 40 in 1984. came part of interfaith initiative seeking forgiveness jews years of persecution christians in jesus name. second visit in june 2000, time in response invitations rabbis human rights , israeli committee against house demolitions. 2 groups had taken upon defend ahmed shamasneh in israeli military court against charges of illegally constructing home in west bank town of qatanna, , maguire traveled israel observe court proceedings , support shamasneh family.

in 2013 interview, omitted mention of 1984 trip israel, saying first went israel/palestine @ invitation of rabbis human rights , israeli committee against house demolitions , absolutely horrified @ palestinians living conditions. after visit started going on regular basis, because hopeful there solution israeli/palestinian injustice. in northern ireland, people said there never solution. once people begin have political , force governments sit down, can happen. maguire has @ times been fiercely critical of state of israel, calling membership in united nations revoked or suspended. has accused israeli government of carrying out policy of ethnic cleansing against palestinians...in east jerusalem , supports boycott , divestment initiatives against israel. concomitantly, maguire has said loves israel , live in israel jewish people, live in fear of suicide bombs , kassam rockets.

mordechai vanunu advocacy

mairead maguire has been vocal supporter of mordechai vanunu, former israeli nuclear technician revealed details of israel s nuclear defence program british press in 1986 , subsequently served 18 years in prison treason. maguire flew israel in april 2004 greet vanunu upon release , has since flown meet him in israel on several occasions.

maguire has described draconian terms of vanunu s parole – including special order prohibiting contact foreign journalists , refusal allow him leave israel – , said remains virtual prisoner. in open letter addressed israeli people in july 2010, after vanunu returned prison violating terms of parole, maguire urged jews in israel petition government vanunu s release , freedom. praised vanunu man of peace, great visionary, true gandhian spirit, , compared actions of alfred nobel.

references holocaust

at joint press conference mordechai vanunu in jerusalem in december 2004, maguire compared israel s nuclear weapons nazi gas chambers in auschwitz. when think nuclear weapons, ve been auschwitz concentration camp. added, nuclear weapons gas chambers perfected ... , people know gas chambers are, how can think of building perfect gas chambers.

in january 2006, close holocaust memorial day, maguire asked mordechai vanunu remembered jews perished in holocaust. we, sorrow , sadness, remember holocaust victims, remember individuals of conscience refused silenced in face of danger , paid freedom , lives in defending jewish brothers , sisters, , remember our brother mordechai vanunu – lonely israeli prisoner in own country, refused silent.

in speech delivered in february 2006 nuclear age peace foundation in santa barbara, california, maguire again made comparison between nuclear weapons , nazis. last april of protested @ dimona nuclear plant, in israel, calling open un inspection, , bombs destroyed. israeli jets flew overhead, , train passed dimona nuclear site. brought me vivid memories of visit auschwitz concentration camp, rail tracks, trains, destruction , death.

maguire firmly denied comparing israel nazi germany in interview tal schneider of lady globes in november 2010. have years been speaking out against nuclear weapons. actively opposed nuclear weapons in britain, in united states, in israel, in country, because nuclear weapons ultimate destruction of humankind. have never said israel nazi germany, , don t know why quoted in israel. never compared gaza extermination camp. visited death camps in austria, nobel prize laureate elie wiesel, , think terrible people did not try stop genocide of jewish people.

palestinian activism

maguire said in 2007 speech israel s separation wall monument fear , failed politics , many palestinians daily living hard, indeed act of resistance. praised inspirational work of international solidarity movement , paid tribute memory of rachel corrie, gave life protesting demolition of palestinian homes israeli military, saying rachels of world reminds responsible each other, , interconnected in mysteriously spiritual , beautiful way.

maguire declared in december 2011 interview hamas elected party , should recognized such all. has democratic vote , should recognized. pointed out on 2008 gaza trip had been invited speak hamas parliament.

on 20 april 2007, maguire participated in protest against construction of israel s separation barrier outside palestinian village of bil in. protest held in no-access military zone. israeli forces used tear-gas grenades , rubber-coated bullets in effort disperse protesters, while protesters hurled rocks @ israeli troops, injuring 2 border guard policemen. 1 rubber bullet hit maguire in leg, whereupon transferred israeli hospital treatment. reported have inhaled large quantities of tear gas.

in october 2008, maguire arrived in gaza aboard ss dignity. although israel had insisted yacht not permitted approach gaza, then-prime minister ehud olmert capitulated , allowed ship sail destination without incident. during stay in gaza, maguire met hamas leader ismail haniyeh. photographed accepting honorary golden plate depicting palestinian flag draped on of israel , occupied territories.

in march 2009 mairead maguire joined campaign immediate , unconditional removal of hamas european union list of proscribed terrorist organisations.

huwaida arraf , maguire, 2009

on 30 june 2009, maguire taken custody israeli military along twenty others, including former u.s. congresswoman cynthia mckinney. on board small ferry, mv spirit of humanity (formerly arion), said carrying humanitarian aid gaza strip, when israel intercepted vessel off coast of gaza. israeli prison, gave lengthy interview democracy now! via cell phone, , deported on 7 july 2009 dublin. on 2 july 2009. in interview, rejected israeli authorities claim aid can pass freely gaza, charging gaza huge prison...a huge occupied territory of one-and-a-half million people have been subjected collective punishment israeli government. further said tragedy american government, un , europe, remain silent in face of abuse of palestinian human rights, freedom, , it’s tragic. in addition, claimed when boat approached israeli naval vessels in international waters, in grave danger of being killed @ point....really in very, dangerous position. literally hijacked, taken @ gunpoint israeli military.

in may–june 2010, maguire passenger on board mv rachel corrie, 1 of 7 vessels part of gaza freedom flotilla, flotilla of pro-palestinian activists attempted bust israeli-egyptian blockade of gaza strip. in interview bbc radio ulster while still @ sea, maguire called blockade inhumane, illegal siege. having been delayed due mechanical problems, rachel corrie did not sail flotilla , approached gazan coast several days after main flotilla did. in contrast violence characterised arrival of first 6 ships, israel s takeover of rachel corrie met passive resistance. israeli naval forces lowered ladder passengers assist ascent onto deck. after incident, maguire said did not feel life in danger ship s captain, derek graham, had been in touch israeli navy assure them there no violent resistance.

on 28 september 2010, maguire landed in israel part of delegation of nobel women s initiative. refused entry visa israeli authorities on grounds had twice in past tried run israel s naval embargo of gaza strip , 10-year exclusion order in effect against her. fought deportation of adalah ngho devoted rights of palestinians in israel. fatmeh el-ajou, attorney adalah noted, believe decision refuse entry ms. maguire based on illegitimate, irrelevant, , arbitrary political considerations. legal team filed petition against order central district court on maguire s behalf, court ruled pronounced deportation order valid. maguire appealed israel s supreme court. initially, court proposed maguire allowed remain in country few days on bail despite deportation order; however, state rejected proposal, arguing maguire had known prior arrival barred entering israel , conduct amounted taking law own hands. three-judge panel accepted state s position , upheld ruling of central district court. @ 1 point during hearing, maguire reportedly spoke up, saying israel must stop apartheid policy , siege on gaza. 1 of judges scolded saying, no place propaganda. mairead corrigan-maguire deported on flight uk following morning, 5 october 2010.

as preparations second gaza flotilla got underway in summer of 2011, irish mv saoirse expected take part, maguire expressed support campaign , called on israel grant flotilla passengers safe passage gaza.

in march 2014, maguire tried arrive gaza through egypt, part of activist delegation included american anti-war activist medea benjamin. members of delegation arrested in cairo, questioned , deported.

in 2016, maguire attempted break israel s naval blockade of gaza strip along 13 other activists, until stopped israeli navy approximately 40 miles offshore. boat escorted port of ashdod. israeli military said interception brief , without injuries. maguire complained , activists arrested, kidnapped, illegally, in international waters , taken against our wishes israel.