Catherine Connolly’s inauguration as President of Ireland on Tuesday will represent a clear victory for Europe’s progressive politicians.
One of the hallmarks of Ms Connolly’s campaign was her strong support and empathy for the Palestinian cause. Her record in this area was clear to the Irish public and one of the main reasons that her victory was sealed well before the actual vote last month.
The veteran left-wing lawyer’s campaign for the presidency, a traditionally passive role designed to ensure ceremonial dignity, was not without controversy. She questioned the government of the day on why there had been no sanctions by Ireland on Israel over its record in the Gaza war. She rejected pressure to support any post-ceasefire arrangement that excludes Hamas. She even defended the group’s role as part of the fabric of Palestinian society.
It is not just in Ireland that being on the Palestinian side has
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