As Dublin mulls ban on Israeli goods from Judea and Samaria, city councillor sparks row by claiming ‘Jews and Israel’ rule the entire American economy.
By David Rosenberg, World Israel News Staff
A lawmaker for the capital of Ireland is under fire after she claimed during a city council meeting this week that Jews and the State of Israel ‘rule’ the American economy.
Punam Rane, a city councillor for Dublin and a member of the center-right Fine Gael party, took part in a hearing Monday night on the Occupied Territories Bill, a proposal which, if passed, would ban the importation of goods or services produce in towns dubbed by the Irish government to be “illegal settlements,” including Israeli communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights.
During he hearing, Rane claimed that Jewish influence over the U.S. had prevented the superpower from “taking a stand…on Palestine.”
“But how many of you know, the entire US economy today is ruled by the Jews, by Israel. They will never be able to take a stance.”
After being criticized by a far-left anti-Zionist city councillor – People Before Profit party member Conor Reddy – for referencing Jews in her comments, Rane claimed that Israelis dominate the U.S. economy.
“I didn’t actually mean a particular community but I am just saying, today, the US economy is ruled by the Israelis. It’s not wrong. They have worked hard for it.”
Sinn Féin city councillor Dáithi Doolan chided Rane for her comments, saying his peers should be “careful with our language,” while expressing criticism for American support of Israel, saying the “sole responsibility” for supporting Israel “lies with the politicians in Washington.”
Rane retracted her comments on Tuesday in a tweet, writing: “I completely withdraw my comments made at last night’s city council meeting in relation to a motion on the Occupied Territories Bill. It was wrong and I fully apologise for it.”
The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland condemned Rane’s comments on Tuesday, rejecting her apology.
“The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland is appalled by the remarks of the Fine Gael Dublin City Councillor at last night’s Council meeting, where she stated that ‘the U.S. economy is ruled by the Jews, by Israel’.”
“Her subsequent apology is not accepted, and Fine Gael should consider whether she ought to be removed from the party. The Jewish Community is also appalled by the fact that these remarks coincided with a remembrance ceremony held in Terenure Synagogue for the 1,200 slaughtered on the 7th October 2023.|
“Comments like this have led to Ireland being labeled as the most antisemitic country in Europe.”