Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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The Irish Stand for the Palestinians. The Irish people were conquered by England and under its control. This was finally remediated and Ireland is now a free nation-state. When Israel was first formed in 1948 under the direction Of the Palestinian area foreign secretary, The brutal Arthur James Balfour, Who also was chief secretary of Ireland before its freedom, It was Balfour in 1917 who proposed a national home In Palestine for the Jewish people. Ronald Storres, governor of Jerusalem (1917-1926), Wrote that if enough Jewish people moved to Palestine, It could "form for England a 'little loyal Jewish Ulster' In a sea of potentially hostile Arabism." When the English settled in Northern Ireland, It became known as the 'plantation of Ulster'. Ireland sided with the new Israel With all its challenges as a fellow underdog. Of course Northern Ireland remained As a constant reminder of English hegemony. Israel began to secure more territory And displaced more indigenous Palestinians. Slowly, the Irish national sympathy shifted more Towards the Palestinian dilemma and cause. Today Ireland laments the horror of the 7 October Gaza attack, But also questions the 'revenge' of the Israeli counter attacks. Of the 5.3 million Irish citizens, there are only 2,700 Muslims, But because of the similar history of conquest, Irish sympathies towards the Palestinian plight Is, at present, steadfast. Indeed, the Irish do wish all those in Israel and Palestine 'That there's always hope and may your miracle Come soon, as it did for us.' Frank Maurer 4 March 2024 1630 Hours.