Social Democrats TD defends deselection of Israeli candidate over Gaza stance

Social Democrats TD defends deselection of Israeli candidate over Gaza stance

Philip Ryan

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has defended the party deselecting Israeli woman Orli Degani as a local election candidate for the party in Dún Laoghaire over its stance on Gaza, which is highly critical of Israel.

Ms Degani was dropped as a candidate after mediation failed to resolve differences between her and the party. The business consultant said she had “raised a concern” that local Jewish people were feeling “more and more unwelcome and unsafe in Ireland and in Dún Laoghaire”.

Mr O’Callaghan, the party’s deputy leader and housing spokesperson, said Ms Degani and the party had been unable to reconcile their differing views on Gaza, and rejected the idea that her deselection was undemocratic. Ms Degani has said she is seeking legal advice on her deselection and now intends to run as an independent.