EDITORIAL: Peace is what we do best in Ireland

The last week in the Middle East has been devastating to watch. The staggering loss of lives, many of which are children, has been horrifying and will go down in history as a moment of true global horror.

Consolation would be the wrong word, but one cannot help but be proud of our small country.

The people of Ireland rowed in as we always do, providing support and a level head where others threw logic to the wind in favour of emotion. There is a lot of criticism for our Government, and much of it deserved, but when it comes to representing us on the world stage, they always seem to know what to say.

Even before last week’s total blockade of Gaza by the Israeli Defence forces, Ireland has always supported the Palestinians.

And they do that while acknowledging Israel’s right to exist and defend itself against terrorism.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland, in 1980, became the first EU State to declare that the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a two state with Palestine fully independent and sovereign.

Since then, Ireland has provided millions of euro in development and emergency funding for the people of Palestine.

Irish people have marched, our politicians have advocated and made diplomatic visits. Last week, when the European Commission announced it was putting €691 million of aid under review, it was Ireland saying, hang on a minute.

Two of our defining features in Ireland are empathy and level-headedness.

Many say this is because of our past, and that might very well be a part of it. But perhaps it’s more than that.

Perhaps this is a reflection of Ireland having come to terms with our history. Ireland fought, gained independence and made peace with the past. We can commemorate historic events that led us to becoming a free State, while acknowledging that that is not how we should be resolving conflict today.

Over the next few weeks we are going to see displays of support in the Premier County, indeed there already are. Not everyone is going to agree with these displays of support but remember, we can disagree without falling out. Peace and level-headedness is what what we do best. And that is exactly what is needed right now.