Around 200 protesters gathered outside the Westin Hotel in the centre of Dublin this evening where celebrations for Israeli Independence Day were taking place in the presence of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland.
Members of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign(IPSC) gathered outside the hotel which was cordoned off by a heavy police presence to protest at Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank.
Placards calling for an investigation into the alleged massacre in the Jenin refugee camp, for Taoiseach Mr Ahern to condemn the occupation of the West Bank, greeted guests, many of whom used the back entrance of the hotel to enter.
The IPSC had earlier in the day called on Irish politicians and diplomats to boycott the event although some protesters say they saw TD's entering the hotel.
In a statement issued during the protest the IPSC said it was "distressing" that Ireland should be celebrating Israeli independence day while Israel was still occupying Palestinian territories.
"Irish Parliamentarians have an honourable record in opposing colonial occupations," the statement said.
"We find it distressing that anyone would choose to celebrate Israeli independence while the Israeli government defies the world in denying the Palestinians their independence."