Irish flag flies in Ramallah, twin city of Waterford
The Irish Flag is flown in Ramallah, which is twinned with Waterford city.
On Tuesday, May 28, Ramallah raised the Irish flag in tribute to Ireland's official recognition of the State of Palestine. Ramallah, the twin city of Waterford, is the administrative capital of the State of Palestine, located in the occupied West Bank.
The Irish flag was flown alongside the flags of Spain and Norway, fellow European states that have also formally recognised the State of Palestine.
The Waterford-Ramallah Twinning Committee has repeated its call for Waterford City and County Council to fly the Palestinian flag to mark this moment in history, in solidarity with the twinned city. Ramallah and Waterford were officially twinned together last year, after a nearly two-year process of building links between regional sports clubs, community groups, schools and trade unions.
in 2022, St Saviour's Boxing Club travelled to Palestine for a match with a local boxing club. The visit was hugely enjoyable for the Déise crowd, with teacher Brian Partridge remarking afterwards: "The kindness and hospitality of the people there is amazing. The good humour, in spite of everything, is amazing."
On December 1, 2023, Waterford City and County Mayor Cllr Joe Conway hosted the Mayor of Ramallah City, Issa Kassis, and the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid at City Hall as part of the twinning. The Palestinian flag was raised on Council buildings briefly for the meeting.
The date of the recognition of Palestinian statehood came on the same day that Israeli military bombarded a displaced camp in Rafah, south of Gaza, killing multiple women and children. On May 30, a vicious fire broke out at a market in Ramallah, due to an Israeli raid. The raid destroyed hundreds of vital food stalls and ruined the businesses of many vendors.
Marc O Cathasaigh, Waterford Green Party TD, praised the Government's decision to recognise the State of Palestine. "For there to be a two-state solution, there needs to be two states. I acknowledge the leadership of the Taoiseach and, in particular our Tánaiste in his role as Minister for Foreign Affairs, in bringing this to pass... The moral bravery needed to take such a decision should not be underestimated."
Deputy O Cathasaigh said that in recognising the State of Palestine, "We do not erode, diminish or deny the rights of any of the other nations of the world to exist in peace".
"Nor do we support or endorse acts of depravity committed in the so-called service of any flag or nation. It is my firm belief that the long-term security and properity of the State of Israel will be enhanced, not eroded, by the recognition of a Palestinian State."
He added: "I say to the people of Palestine that in recognising your place among the nations of the world this is some small effort from a small nation with its own history of repression to influence the course of history for the better. It is our fervent hope that it brings you hope in these darkest of times.
Over 35,000 Palestinians, including over 15,000 children, have been killed since October 7, 2023.
