Local MLA backs Eastwood on St Patrick's Day White House boycott

A WEST Tyrone SDLP MLA., Daniel McCrossan, has backed his party leader's decision not to attend St Patrick’s Day events at the White House.

Colum Eastwood said he "cannot in good conscience" attend the White House's St Patrick's Day celebrations because of the US response to the Israel-Gaza war.

Mr Eastwood, who visited Khan Younis and surrounding districts days after a serious escalation in violence in November 2012, said that the scale and intensity of violence cannot be justified and that the US should become an advocate for a ceasefire to preserve the dignity and humanity of the civilian population in Gaza and southern Israel.

Instead, the SDLP will send a delegation to Washington to engage with senior lawmakers, Irish Americans and Palestinian Americans to "press strongly for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas".

Supporting the stance, Mr McCrossan said: "These are difficult issues and every party leader will have to take their own decision on how they approach St Patrick’s Day.

"In my opinion, Colum is 100 per cent right on this and has my full backing."

He continued: "Ireland has strong historic and diplomatic bonds with the United States but we have a duty to be honest with friends and allies, especially when we think they’re wrong.

“The killing has to stop, far too many lives have been lost already. Everyone knows that the US government has enormous influence in the region and we urge them to use that influence to further peace negotiations.

"The SDLP has been clear from the start of this conflict that we want to see a ceasefire, the release of hostages and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza."