My Word: It’s a funny old world - opinion

Ireland's government has purchased a €53 million aircraft intended for official state business, but notably excluded the FalconEye technology. This advanced system, co-developed by Dassault Falcon and Israeli defense giant Elbit Systems, is crucial for the plane's ability to land in foggy weather. The decision stems from Ireland's reluctance to award defense contracts to Israeli companies, a move the article's author labels as a "crash course in the irrationality of antisemitism."

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Talk about a crash course in the irrationality of antisemitism. It’s not the fog that’s preventing them from seeing clearly. It’s blind hatred.

The author argues that this decision is not about fog preventing clear vision, but rather "blind hatred." While acknowledging that some countries might withdraw from events like the Eurovision Song Contest due to political stances, the article highlights the extreme nature of grounding a government aircraft in adverse weather conditions to avoid utilizing Israeli technology. This is particularly pointed out given that Irish officials reportedly still use Airbus helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft equipped with Elbit avionics, suggesting the politicians themselves are the primary risk.

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It’s one thing for countries like Ireland to pull out of the Eurovision Song Contest because they didn’t want to share the stage with an Israeli singer. (It was no great loss to the Eurovision or to Ireland, which, unlike Israel, has fared poorly in the music competition in recent years.) It’s another thing to literally ground your government in frequent bad weather rather than permit Israeli technology to save the day.

The piece suggests that Ireland's officials are overlooking numerous Israeli contributions in technology, health, and agriculture. The author implies that a comprehensive boycott of Israeli products could deprive the country and the world of significant advancements, likening the situation to Ireland losing its way by boycotting Israeli-invented WAZE and questioning their moral compass.

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The Irish reportedly still use Airbus helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft fitted with Elbit avionics, so maybe the joke really is on the government – it’s only the politicians who are at risk.

Recent events, particularly the allegations of "genocide" in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas-led attack, have intensified Irish indignation towards Israel. The article contends that accusations against Israel began before its response to the Hamas incursion, which resulted in 1,220 deaths and 251 hostages. It dismisses the "baby-killer" narrative as a deeply entrenched blood libel, citing a UNICEF-led report that allegedly shows low malnutrition rates in Gaza, comparable to pre-conflict levels.

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Maybe they lost their way boycotting Israeli-invented WAZE. They’ve certainly lost their moral compass.