[https://www.newarab.com/opinion/stand-gaza-irelands-sinn-fein-must-boycott-biden](https://www.newarab.com/opinion/stand-gaza-irelands-sinn-fein-must-boycott-biden)
*The US president is complicit in Israel’s genocide, and Sinn Féin must not abandon Palestinians in its rise to power, writes Farrah Koutteineh.*
In just a few weeks time, Sinn Féin’s leadership will be jetting off to the White House to [celebrate St Patrick’s Day](https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sinn-fein-to-visit-white-house-for-st-patricks-day-despite-calls-for-boycott-over-israeli-war-on-gaza/a533623764.html#:~:text=Irish%20News-,Sinn%20F%C3%A9in%20to%20visit%20White%20House%20for%20St%20Patrick’s%20Day,over%20Israeli%20war%20on%20Gaza&text=The%20Sinn%20F%C3%A9in%20leadership%20is,with%20the%20people%20of%20Gaza.) with US President Joe Biden.
Every year, the US president hosts a reception marking Saint Patrick’s Day (17 March), where he poses with shamrocks beside leading [Irish politicians](https://www.newarab.com/news/ireland-will-not-back-south-africa-israel-icj-genocide-case) embarrassingly blushing in his presence.
But this year, Biden has been [sued in federal court](https://www.newarab.com/news/palestinians-take-genocide-case-us-federal-court) over his blanket support and complicity in Israel’s [unfolding genocide in Gaza](https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-blinken-heads-egypt-seek-enduring-end-war?blockId=block_19023), which has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians.
Palestinians, including Omar Barghouti, the founder of the [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement](https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david-cronin/ireland-must-disown-genocide-joe), have called on Irish political parties and leaders to boycott this year’s ceremony, but Sinn Féin, the largest all-Ireland party, has ignored these calls.
Sinn Féin has been facing increased scrutiny over their politically calculated response to the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza. The party has a long history of solidarity with Palestine, built on [decades of solidarity between Palestinian and Irish anti-colonial resistance](https://www.newarab.com/opinion/palestine-and-ireland-history-shared-struggle).
Sinn Féin has been calling for a ceasefire, but since 7 October has been playing politics when it comes to Gaza and has failed to take any meaningful measures to challenge the Israel’s US-sponsored genocide.
At a protest for Gaza in Belfast, Sinn Féin speakers were met with [deafening boos](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67234424) from protesters. Countless Sinn Féin supporters were left puzzled by the party’s decision to [abstain from multiple council votes ](https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/expelling-israels-ambassador-will-not-help-irish-citizens-in-gaza-martin-says-1547750.html)to expel the Israeli ambassador from Ireland.
Now, the party has [voted against](https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/derry-strabane-council-meeting-disrupted-as-vote-on-boycotting-us-on-st-patricks-day-fails-4500647#:~:text=Patrick%27s%20Day%20fails-,Derry%20%26%20Strabane%20Council%20meeting%20disrupted%20as%20vote%20on%20boycotting%20U.S.,a%20disturbance%20in%20the%20chambers.) a motion in Derry Council calling to boycott the White House.
Sinn Féin councillors who voted against the motion [justified their decision](https://www.thejournal.ie/sdlp-boycott-st-patricks-day-celebrations-white-house-gaza-6284050-Jan2024/) with the absurd belief that, in between shamrock exchanges, they can have a word with Biden about a ceasefire, and that he’ll listen.
They blissfully ignored that Biden is being taken to court for his own personal role in this genocide; that he has consistently [amplified Israeli propaganda and disinformation](https://www.newarab.com/investigations/how-biden-spread-gaza-misinformation-worlds-top-pulpit) about the murder of Palestinians; the annual $3.8 billion military aid package to Israel, which the US government [increased](https://www.newarab.com/news/us-ramps-military-aid-israel-gaza-offensive-looms) after 7th October; and the decision to [stop funding UNRWA](https://www.newarab.com/analysis/end-unrwa-why-israel-targeting-refugee-agency), which provides life-sustaining aid to Gazans.
Even more outrageously, former Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams recently stated that the party jetting off to the White House is [paramount to the Irish struggle](https://www.businesspost.ie/news/gerry-adams-palestinians-will-understand-if-sinn-fein-goes-to-us-for-st-patricks-day/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=qf) for a united Ireland, and that “Palestinian’s should understand” that “your own struggle…has to be your primary focus”.
This is an absolutely tone deaf remark that disregards the polar opposite realities of genocide in Gaza, and him celebrating at the White House with no warplanes or drones flying overhead.
Adam’s preposterous speech also undermines the importance of true solidarity, and that no struggle takes priority over another; all of our struggles are vehemently interconnected.
Many may see Sinn Féin’s recent behaviour as a paradigm shift in the [party’s stance](https://www.newarab.com/features/borders-and-boycotts-why-irish-stand-palestine). But the truth is this is only a public-facing shift. The party’s leadership sold out on Palestine years ago, just behind closed doors.
The party has been slowly backpedalling on Palestine. It is no secret that, back in 2016, Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan had [hosted](https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/palestinians-urge-sinn-fein-end-likud-meetings) several meetings with the far-right Israeli political party Likud, the party of the current Israeli government committing the barbarity we are currently witnessing in Gaza.
In 2014, Gerry Adams whilst leader of Sinn Féin [visited](https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/irelands-gerry-adams-comes-out-partition-palestine) occupied Palestine and met Yitzhak Herzog, leader of Israel’s Labour Party, historically the party most culpable for the initial colonisation and ethnic cleansing of Palestine. Both incidents were defended by Sheehan and Adams, stating that ‘dialogue’ is essential, and their ‘solidarity’ with the Palestinian people was what fuelled these interactions.
It is absolute absurdity to suggest you are an ally of an oppressed indigenous people whilst shaking hands with their colonisers.
It was only a few months ago that I myself, one of the only Palestinian members of Sinn Féin, was [thrown out of the party](https://www.newarab.com/opinion/stand-palestinians-sinn-fein-must-not-silence-us) for recommending it update its problematic Palestine policy. I had expressed outrage over the party supporting a ‘two-state solution’, a so-called ‘solution’ void in a settler colonial reality, one that cements the colonial partition of Palestine.
I had expressed my views in the hopes of a sense of understanding amongst members of a party who understand the similarities with the colonial partition of their own island. Instead I was met with hostility and my party membership terminated.
It is clear that this is all part of the party’s wider political strategy to get elected in the South amid a historic victory in the North, and Sinn Féin believes that diluting the party’s historic solidarity with Palestine will make them more palatable to the middle classes in the South.
Sinn Féin’s backpedalling on Palestine and its bootlicking of the United States is all part of that strategy. This strategy is also about securing hefty political donations and support from [wealthy and influential Irish-Americans](https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david-cronin/ireland-must-disown-genocide-joe), a powerful lobby who often diverge in values from the people of Ireland.
Sinn Féin’s PR team is working overdrive on the party’s damage control, and so far is doing a pretty good job of giving the illusion it cares about what is happening in Palestine to appease its supporters sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, whilst simultaneously actually doing nothing material to still secure its political donations.
The party seemingly thwarted all council votes to expel the Israeli ambassador by tactically abstaining, received backlash, then u-turned with a mere verbal statement when it was too late and the vote could not be repeated.
Their response to the call to boycott the White House is to instead amplify [the voice of the Palestinian Authority (PA) ](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/sinn-fein-israel-ireland-palestinian-irish-b2445696.html)claiming it to be somewhat representative of Palestinian civil society, which it is not. The PA is an authoritarian regime that has not held an election since 2006, is corrupt, and that [collaborates](https://al-shabaka.org/memos/the-pas-revolving-door-a-key-policy-in-security-coordination/) with Israel in imprisoning, torturing, and assassinating Palestinians resisting the Israeli occupation.
Sinn Féin leaders echoing fatal calls that the Irish struggle is more important than the Palestinian struggle, during an active genocide, will never achieve the united Ireland generations have fought tirelessly for on this island.
The united Ireland Sinn Féin seeks to deliver is simply handing over the island from British colonisers to American imperialists.
A political party that chooses to turn its back on a people it has stood with for decades, during their darkest hour, is a political party that cannot be trusted in a position of power.
​
by Otterbrook_Avenue
21 comments
Op-ed’s are more elaborate Reddit posts.
Won’t stop them sticking up signs that they stand with Gaza then trot off to the Whitehouse and keep stum about the area. They really are whatever room they stand in aren’t they
Grow up.
I mean the Palestinian ambassador has already said they Irish politicians should go to Washington for St Patrick’s day and use that platform to raise concerns about genocide in Palestine.
The only poltician I’ve seen take a stand North or South, that has the potential for overseas travel for St. Patrick’s Day is Colum Eastwood and he is just trying to be relevant in a time of massive irrelevance.
Boycott helps no one, better raising the issue while in the States when the spotlight is on.
A post painting sinn Fein in a bad light. This has to be a first for this sub…lock it up
The person who write that appears to be English – maybe look at their own political parties and government of their own country (England)?
Don’t think a person who rejects a two state solution should be taken seriously
So you dont support a two state solution. OK – what does the single state look like ideally in your view?
fuck off with this shit you terrorist supporting clowns.
Potentially damage our relationship with America in solidarity with a cause that’s nothing to do with us? No thanks
Yeah but they won’t
In my heart I agree with what they say, but my head knows taking up that position and approach is utterly pointless and will achieve nothing.
The game is rigged and deciding to boycott and sit outside the tent will only further guarantee they will get nothing.
Sadly I can see now that there is no future where the Palestinians see any kind of meaningful justice, because the Israelis and their ideology have so successfully embedded themselves within the American consciousness.
The best that can be done is play their game and try to slow them down. It’s absolutely shit and the best it might achieve is Palestine losing more slowly, but the alternative path will never win, it will only bring more slaughter, and of course exponentially more on the Palestinian side.
Boycotts do nothing. In fact, a boycott is like just putting the blinders on. You’re helping israel more by not attending events where you can use those platforms to protest.
What will be achieved by boycotting the St. Patrick’s day celebrations? We should not cut of our nose to spite our face.
Time to make a stance SF. You can’t score points by just saying you’re against all these injustices.
Oh yeah, like that’s a good idea.
Ireland- the one country that has a standing invitation every year to have a sit down with the President of the United States should piss on that opportunity to do a pointless act of protest. Fucking pathetic suggestion.
Think of the potential knock on effects;
Ireland boycotts Biden on St. Patrick’s day. Boycott the most ‘Irish’ President the US has ever had.
The boycott is picked up by the US media. Fox runs stories about how Biden is losing the support of key allies- even the Irish.
The resulting media manipulation weakens Bidens support and he loses the election to Trump.
Does anyone think that if Biden looses that the the people of Gaza or Ukraine will be looked after? Because the GOP are going with Trump/ that’s who’s in the Whitehouse again for 4 years if Biden looses. Politics is a dirty game and Biden knows how to play it. He can’t just disregard the Israelis, he has to be shown to be trying to be the adult in the room and let the them generate enough bad press through their actions that their support at home weakens and then they will be more open to negotiation. Biden can’t put boots in the ground because then he’s painted as starting another Middle East war. The guy is on the side of the Gazan’s 100%, he thoroughly dislikes Netenyahu, but he has to play the game. Remember Hamas and the IDF are the assholes in this conflict, not the powers that get pulled in trying to drag them apart.
Sinn Féin’s actions last night were fucking disgraceful.
They only care about American cash, they’re sell-outs imho.
Yeah…
There are lots of issues that Irish political parties would like to lobby the US on. They can’t do any of that if they won’t meet over this single issue.
What a stupid take.
The British government and arms industry have ramped up weapons sales to Israel since Oct 7th
Have the SDLP boycotted Westminster and refused to take their seats?
I’m an Irish Republican and I vote for Sinn Fein- (they’re the best option out of a bad lot and I like my local representative). But anyone who thinks Sinn Fein (or basically any mainstream political party) isn’t out for Sinn Fein and only Sinn Fein, is off their noggin. We ourselves, indeed.