Ben Cohen publishes in Z-Word Blog a series of three articles under a common title “The Limits of the Northern Ireland Analogy” by Henry McDonald, who has covered Irish politics for the Observer and Guardian newspapers. It is a compelling read for an outsider, and I am waiting for the last, the third installment.
So far Henry McDonald is “examining the flaws in the frequently-drawn comparison between the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Islamist terror groups like Hamas.” There is another side of the NI conflict that could be examined, although I know that it irks all my British friends who, quite rightly, point out the inherent danger of looking for analogies in history. But what the heck – there aren’t that many other good ways to learn from history.
Anyway, at least at first glance and, I dare say, also at second glance there are too many common features in the NI history and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to be easily disregarded.
To start with, about 400 years ago the enforced population of Northern Ireland (already populated by Irish Catholics) by Protestant settlers was initiated by Britain. It continued for a long time, resistance notwithstanding. The conflict ended (hopefully) only recently by an enforced peace agreement, and it’s good that the centuries of the mutual bloodletting are over.
So: we have a foreign colonial power, we have the settlers, we have the land grab, we have four centuries of killing and, eventually, we have some semblance of peace – brought forth under enormous international pressure.
There is one slight catch: you see, the settlers and the settlements in NI, after all, remained where they were planted…
Now explain this away, please.
Cross-posted on SimplyJews.
Of course, the Jews were the original inhabitants, the Muslims were the invaders, and the “settlements” are the original inhabitants returning to their land. Also, the invaders are refusing to allow the original inhabitants to live in peace and are trying to wipe them out.
Aside from those differences, a possible analogy.
Long time no see, Sabba Hillel. And as usual, when you come by, it is to point out another mistake of mine ;-)
Just joking, anyway I didn’t intend the analogy to go more than 400 and some years.
One main difference, which everybody using this false analogy ignores, is that the IRA did not intend the genocide of the Protestants. They wanted Northern Ireland incorporated in the Irish Republic. Israel’s enemies intend the genocide fo the Jews as well as the destruction of Israel. Therfore the analogy fails by reason that the situations are not at all the same in this respect. There are other differences too, but this one is definitive in my opinion.
With due respect, Michael, you have a) missed the linked article(s) by Henry McDonald – he explains, in length, precisely the point you are trying to prove to me (why?). It’s already proved.
In addition, you have missed my point, which has nothing to do with goals and behavior of NI Catholics or NI Protestants. It starts with the words “There is one slight catch:…”.
And speaking of behavior: in my humble opinion, there was a side whose behavior was an order of magnitude worse than that of both warring sides in the conflict. I mean the Brits – their “intelligence” arm, their army and their police. You could do worse than read something on the NI history of the last two-three centuries.
Thanks for the advice Snoopy. I have read rather a bit about Irish history, not just about the Six Counties, stretching back to the Ulster Plantation and beyond. And from both sides.
Now, Michael, sorry I stepped on a toe here. I hope, though, that my point is clearer now.