During operation “Protective Edge”, a 50 day military onslaught carried out by Israel against Gaza in the Summer of 2014, 536 children Palestinian children and 1 Israeli child died.

The Gaza Strip is home to a population of 1.7 million people, including 1.2 million Palestine refugees, in an area of 360km2 – less than half the size of Louth. It has been described as “the world’s largest concentration camp”.

80% of the population of Gaza is dependent on international assistance.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israel has blockaded Gaza on land and sea since 2007, and even controls the amount of calories per person allowed in. At various times, Israel has blocked goods such as wheelchairs, crayons, artist supplies and musical instruments.

As of 2013, Israel had been condemned in 45 resolutions by United Nations Human Rights Council since its creation in 2006—the Council had resolved almost more resolutions condemning Israel than on the rest of the world combined. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions saying that the strategic relationship with the United States encourages Israel to pursue aggressive and expansionist policies and practices. The United States finances Israel to the tune of $10,000,000 per day, and has vetoed every attempt by the UN to impose sanctions on Israel for it’s treatment of the Palestinian people.

The BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement is going from strength to strength and beginning to have a real impact.

https://www.facebook.com/Boycott-Divestment-and-Sanctions-BDS-Movement-115083011869901/?fref=ts

The Israeli government and their supporters use the loaded term “anti-Semitic” to label anyone who would dare criticise their actions in Palestine.

In this song, I tried to get across the point that the issue is not anti-semitism, but rather outrage at the indiscriminate or deliberate targeting of children, regardless of the conflict.

The song was premiered at Christy Moore’s “Concert for Gaza” in Vicar Street on October 12, 2014, which was attended by the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland. I dedicated this song to the then Israeli ambassador, Boaz Modai, and his wife and Deputy Ambassador, Nurit Tinari-Modai. They left Ireland in September 2015.

Over 500 Irish artist have signed the pledge to boycott Israel. I’m number 313.

http://www.ipsc.ie/cultural-boycott/ipsc-irish-artists-pledge-to-boycott