A Northern Irish MP has suggested Israel open a consulate in Belfast as an alternative to the recently closed embassy in Dublin.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)’s Jim Shannon told the JC in an interview that he “understood only too well” why Israel decided to withdraw diplomatically, saying that he had written to Ireland’s Taoiseach (prime minister) to express concern over what many see as the country’s increasingly anti-Israel policies.
“In my opinion, they entrench themselves in the wrong side of the argument. Fair play and honesty and justice is not part of what I see”, The MP for Strangford added.
The 69-year-old, who has been in Westminster since 2010, suggested that opening up a consulate in Belfast would ensure some contact between Israel and residents of the island of Ireland: “people could travel there and engage directly with the with the Israeli government, at least in the visas and other things that they put into to embassy duties”.
But why is it that MPs from the main Protestant Unionist party in Northern Ireland are so pro-Israel?
“First of all, as a Christian, I’m ever mindful that the Israelis are God’s people, I suppose that’s where my interest and allegiance towards Israel lies”, Shannon said
Headded: “Secondly, I’m always one who stands up for the for the wee boy or the wee girl. And Israel is that country, that country where they’re always being bullied or trying to be coerced by other bigger countries”.
Jim Shannon MP (second on the left) during a visit to kibbutzim near the border with Gaza (Image: Jim Shannon).
“The attacks of October 7 reinforced in this modern age that we live in the vulnerability of Israel”, he added.
Shannon’s first visit to Israel took place last Easter and “solidified” his support for Israel, “They’re not perfect. You know, I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect either”, Shannon jested.
During his trip, he went to the kibbutzim that suffered devastation at the hands of Hamas terrorists and met with survivors and relatives of hostages.
“It was, to be honest with you, probably a tearful engagement from my part, because I couldn’t quite understand how anybody hates anybody so much”, Shannon said.
He also met with Mandy Damari, whose daughter Emily was recently released from Hamas captivity and said that he prayed for their reunion “every day”.
Jim Shannon MP (left) speaking with an Israeli military officer during a visit (Image: Jim Shannon).
In Parliament, Shannon is one of Israel’s staunchest defenders in the House of Commons, and will often be one of few MPs to offer a pro-Israel prospective during the many debates held on the topic.
“It does take courage sometimes to stand up and be a lone person” he said.
Referencing a recent debate on Israel, he said “I’m minded of the Bible story, dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone. And sometimes we have to do that.”
“I stood my ground and spoke up for Israel … the reasons why Palestinian people have been killed are primarily because of Hamas embedding themselves in and amongst the general population: in schools, hospitals or in community groups.
“They hide behind the skirts of Palestinian women, so any deaths that are taking place, Hamas is responsible. I made that very clear. Did that go down well with everyone? Probably not, but I tried to try to be respectful”, he added.
In recent years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to have been adopted along sectarian lines in Northern Ireland, with Palestinian flags and pro-Palestine graffiti visible in more Catholic areas and Israeli flags in Protestant and Unionist areas.
“I know we’ve Israeli flags across my constituency”, Shannon said, adding: “I think that’s probably us as Unionists standing alongside the Israeli population and their nation to ensure that they have many supporters across the world, and while the other side, the Palestinians, are probably backed and supported by the nationalists.”
Shannon continued: “We jokingly say sometimes that the Ulster people – the Ulster man, the Ulster woman – are the 13th tribe of Israel, because we often are the ones who will speak up for Israel. Is there an evidential base for that? No”.
“It’s probably down to the to our religious views, and ultimately, where our political views resonate with as well”, he added.
Are there any lessons the Israelis and Palestinians can learn from the peace process in Northern Ireland? He hopes so but cautions that “you can’t always compare like for like.”
He continued: “I think my hope would be that there would be lessons that could be learnt, where two nations could live alongside together” but, he said fact that Hamas are “active in a destroyed Gaza” suggests that “maybe there’s a long way to go yet.”
Learning how to do things differently is something Shannon had come to realise: “I had three boys, three young boys, and I wanted to leave something for them for the future, and I want to leave something for all the other wee boys and girls for the future as well.”
He added: “I realised that, whether I like it or whether I don’t is not the issue. But is there a way forward? Is there a way where both sides of community could agree, at least in a critical process, or maybe a mutual understanding. It doesn’t mean I’m any less of a Unionist. It doesn’t probably mean that the Nationalists are less nationalist, but it means that we have an understanding and how to move forward.”
Amongst Westminster-watchers, Shannon enjoys something of a cult status, known for his frequent interventions in Adjournment Debates, which close the day in Parliament and allow backbenchers the chance to get a response on a particular issue from a relevant minister.
The phrase “Jim Shannon has intervened in the Adjournment Debate” is a meme amongst a niche group of politicos.
“I’m aware of it. Everybody tells me about it”, he said, but claims that “I don’t do a score card of how many times I speak.”
On the Monday the interview was held, the Adjournment Debate on Parliament’s Order Paper was on Crewe Railway Station.
“You’re going to say, ‘Well, Jim, for goodness sake, where does Strangford feature in that?’ I’ll tell you what it does: Connor Naismith (the Labour MP for Crewe) is the proposer of that … and I’ll go along to support him, because I’m hoping that someday Connor Naismith and all the other ones will say: ‘Well, Jim has supported me and my debate’, and maybe they’ll come along to support me in my own”, he said.
Despite the sometimes-adversarial nature of Westminster, Shannon thinks that “It doesn’t always have to mean that you fall out”, adding: “I try to be fair to everyone I meet. And if I go to say something maybe critical of government, I’ll always prefix it with, ‘with great respect to the honourable gentleman or to the Minister. I do feel that this needs to be answered’, so I try to do it the nice way.”
