“I hope that political parties who have issued strong statements of condemnation will back up their words with action”
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says he will table a motion of no confidence in Education Minister Paul Givan, after a controversial visit to Israel.
Mr Carroll said a rally will take place tomorrow, Saturday November 1, at 1pm at Belfast City Hall. In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, he said Palestine solidarity activists, education workers, community groups and representatives of political parties “will attend a demonstration to protest the Education Minister’s recent trip to Israel, which has been mired in controversy and drawn strong, sustained criticism”.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson backed the decision of his party colleague to visit Israel. Mr Givan travelled with a group of unionist MLAs after an invitation by the government of Israel for an official visit as part of a delegation of representatives from Northern Ireland.
READ MORE: Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan under fire over visit to IsraelREAD MORE: DUP leader defends Educaton Minister’s trip to Israel as the ‘right thing’ to do
“In recent days, I have been overwhelmed with messages from constituents who are rightly outraged at the Minister’s trip to Israel,” Gerry Carroll continued.
“At a time when the rest of the world is slowly turning its back on this pariah state, it is mind boggling that local elected reps are going on a junket to shill for its genocidal regime. What lessons does the Minister think he needs to learn from a state that has murdered over 20,000 children? Significantly, this visit also blurred the lines between party political activity and Ministerial duties, showing remarkably poor judgement.
“This is why I am tabling a motion of no confidence in Paul Givan, calling on him to be excluded from Ministerial office. I hope that political parties who have issued strong statements of condemnation will back up their words with action, and sign this motion when it’s tabled on Monday. As elected representatives, we must use all tools at our disposal to hold the Minister to account for his reprehensible behaviour.
“I urge everyone who’s disgusted by the Minister’s actions to come to Belfast City Hall tomorrow and unite to send a clear message: Givan must go!”
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our politics newsletter here.
#Belfast #rally #planned #Ministers #Israel #visit
