have something in common?

Thanks for not being small minded!

The Irish owe the Palestinians big time - the IRA trained in the PLO camps.

hundreds of thousands of American Irish and their IRA sympathisers. Even McDonalds helped fund IRA terrorism.

I hear they are hiring set directors for dancing women in those countries.

And what about Irish Jew-hatred?

Every freaking time a big-name musician or artist is about to visit Israel to share their message of artisitc elation, peace and goodwill, some pesky Palestinian lobby group shamelessly pressures them to cancel the tour, using disinformation, emotional blackmail, and when that fails - economic blackmail as well. Of course, these lobbies wouldn't give a rat's a** about performances in places like Russia or China or any of the Arab states, renowned for their amazing human rights record. Only Israel, the most humane country in the ME, is singled out. This phenomenon is really getting annoying now, even when the artists do not cave in the to pressure (kudos to Riverdance, btw). We don't want to feel like a political "victory" when an artist defies the boycott call. We want to take our minds off politics entirely, unwind, forget our troubles for a short while, feel like a part of the normal civilized world, and just enjoy good music! It is high time that countries in Europe would outlaw or at least hinder the activity of these pests.

I am Irish but I support Israel. Only an ignoramus hates Jews, and only an ignoramus boycotts Israel. There are many in Ireland who see through the lies of BDS and buy Israeli products. That is why our shops still stock them. The Irish pro-Palestine organisation is a small but very vocal and threatening group comprised of Palestinians and ex-IRA supporters along with the ignorant and uninitiated. They try to intimidate others to boycott but succeed in alienating people instead. Well done to Riverdance for refusing to be intimidated.

The Riverdance performance was outstanding... as usual. Support who supports us !

There you go again Philomena, Sterotyping everyone who has an opinion thats different than yours as Blah, Blah Blah, etc, etc. I support Israel, I will purchase Israeli Goods, (although their spuds are really really crap, way too watery). I have never been an IRA member nor am I a Palestinian, I like to think Im not an ignoramus or unitiated after visiting Israel on 3 occassions in the past 8 years but I do support the Palestinian cause for statehood and I am also a member of the Irish Pro Palestinian group and agree with most of their objectives, and I find that they are not intimidating or threatening anyone, despite your lies. and I dont think anyone is alienated by them, in truth, the very fact that Iam allowed to be a member and raise my differences with them and am allowed to debate their issues AND remain their friend is a sign that they are actually much more Democratic and sensible that your stupid comments..... Trying to equate Pro Palestine with anti Israel is typical of your uneducated mind who just cant cope with Logic.

Nice try, putting a Kosher stamp on these hatemongering anti-Israel groups. Yet in all your arguments in favor of them, you still failed to address one crucial point: if these groups are so "democratic and sensible" (to use your words), how come the tactic they use is to punish all Israeli music, dance and theatre lovers? Why don't they concentrate their efforts on the diplomatic front instead? Is there anything "democratic and sensible" about cynically mixing music with politics? Is there anything "democratic and sensible" about making ordinary people who only want to enjoy music and forget their troubles and forget about politics for a while - feel hated and ostracized? Your statement, "Trying to equate Pro Palestine with anti Israel is typical of your uneducated mind who just cant cope with Logic" - is absolute nonsense, because this pro-Palestinian-anti-Israel equation is EXACTLY what these groups are doing.

May G-d bless you and those like you, Phil. And He will.

Seems to me from your TB that you don't have any differences with the pro-Palestinians so your claim that you debate them with no problem means nothing. Just try and support Israel as a sovereign Jewish State and you will be accused of being for example a "child killer" as I was. The fact is you are a stereo-typical pro-Palestinain who is either ignorant or a trouble-maker. Or both.

Your TB is a blessing indeed.

By the way Sean, boycotting Israeli products doesn't just mean not buying a bit of fruit or veg. grown in Israel. It means not using the technology in your mobile phone and computer which was developed in Israel. It means not accepting any medicines where Israeli companies had a role in developing them. It means refusing medical assistance because the equipment was developed in Israel. It means refusing to use public transport because Israeli companies helped in the design and development. It means boycotting companies who have branches in Israel. It means boycotting companies owned by Israeli companies or individuals. The list goes on and on. It means boycotting your way of life.

Riverdance had a great time in Israel and they are going to come back for more performances in Israe in 2013 !! Bravo Riverdance !!!

Excellent on Riverdance! I have loved it since the first time i saw the Riverdance VHS in the late 90's. I love it even more now. I also have a deep appreciation for the Irish culture and people... especially when they are people like Phil. People should really think before they throw around buzz words like "Apartheid" without actually knowing what it means. I look forward to seeing Riverdance live.

The Iriah have aligned their own historical plight with Britain with siding the world's worst apatheid regimes, probably because of Christian antisemitic teachings. Now the truth does not set them free.