Irish anti-war activists have called for a "a total boycott of Israel" until the military offensive against Lebanon is called off. Alison Healy reports.
Richard Boyd Barrett, chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement, urged the trade union movement to support a consumer boycott by asking members not to handle Israeli goods such as wine, fruit and vegetables.
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign called for a tourism, sporting and academic boycott.
Raymond Deane, spokesman for the group, urged Irish academics to refuse invitations to visit Israeli universities and said they should not invite Israeli lecturers here unless they were known for their opposition to Israeli government policy.
"Israel must be singled out and isolated until it is made to realise that it has to pay a price and that's the only way that the international community can have an effect," he said.
The boycott was called for as the Irish Anti-War Movement announced details of an emergency demonstration which will be held in Dublin tomorrow.
The protest will begin at 2pm at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square and will proceed to Dáil Éireann, ending up on Dame Street where speakers will include Lebanese citizens, anti-war activists and politicians.
The protest will call on Israel to cease all attacks on Lebanon and on Palestinian territories.
It will also call on the Irish Government to end the use of Shannon airport by the US military.
On the discovery that bombs destined for Israel had passed through a Scottish airport, Mr Boyd Barrett said there was "a high degree of possibility" that weaponry destined for Israel could be transported through Shannon.
He also called for the expulsion of Israeli ambassador to Ireland Daniel Megiddo until the attacks on Lebanon stopped.
Mr Deane said he expected the "anti-Semitism" card would be played by Israeli supporters in the coming weeks "because it's the only weapon they have left".