Dublin: Punam Rane, an Indian-born Fine Gael councillor serving on Dublin City Council, has issued an apology following backlash over anti-Semitic comments she made during a council meeting. Rane’s remarks, which suggested that the entire U.S. economy is controlled by Jews from Israel, sparked immediate criticism from across the political spectrum.
The incident occurred during a debate on the Occupied Territories Bill, which calls for a ban on the import of goods and services produced by illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. The bill has broad support from political parties in Ireland, many of which back a boycott of Israeli goods. However, Rane’s comments went beyond the scope of the debate and were seen as inflammatory.
In her remarks, Rane claimed that the U.S. economy is controlled by Jews, which is why, in her view, the U.S. has been unable to take a firm stance on the Palestinian issue. She also questioned how many people were aware of this alleged influence. In response, People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy immediately challenged her, stating that such claims were inappropriate and should be clarified. Rane later attempted to revise her statement, saying that the U.S. economy is influenced by Israelis, rather than Jews, but the damage had already been done.
Several councillors, including Sinn Féin’s Daithi Doolan, condemned her remarks as divisive and urged caution in making provocative statements, especially those targeting religious groups. The Fine Gael party also moved swiftly to distance itself from Rane’s comments, with a spokesperson stating that her views do not reflect the party’s position and should not have been made by a representative of Fine Gael. The party indicated that disciplinary action against Rane would be considered.
In her apology, Rane explained that her intention was not to single out any religious group but to express concerns about Israel’s perceived influence on US policy. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that her comments were inappropriate and fully retracted them.
This incident has reignited discussions on anti-Semitism in Ireland, with calls for stronger action against such rhetoric. While many Irish political figures and parties, including members of the Green Party and Labour Party, are openly critical of Israeli policies, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil support trade sanctions against Israel.
The controversy surrounding Rane’s comments came in the wake of an anti-Israeli march in Dublin. Some viewed the outrage over her remarks as an effort to deflect from wider criticisms of Israel. However, the episode has allowed Ireland’s Jewish community, which numbers in the thousands, to challenge prevailing perceptions and foster a dialogue on anti-Semitism.
While Rane’s apology appears to have brought the immediate controversy to a close, the broader debate on Ireland’s stance towards Israel and the fine line between legitimate criticism of its policies and anti-Semitic rhetoric continues.
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