Last year, I found myself in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on a tour guided by an ex-IRA fighter. As we drove through the city, he pointed out the historic sites where The Troubles had played out, sharing stories of resistance, loss, and survival. One story hit particularly close to home—his sister had been killed by British soldiers during the conflict.
As we passed through different neighborhoods, I noticed something striking: old IRA murals were gradually being replaced with vibrant pro-Palestinian artwork. Seeing this, I mentioned that I am Palestinian. He nodded, as if understanding something deeper, and assured me that his tour company welcomes all visitors.
Then he shared a jaw-dropping experience.
A Disturbing Encounter
One day, an Israeli tourist took his tour. As they drove past a Palestinian mural, the man looked at it with disdain and made a horrifying remark:
“All Palestinian children should be killed.”
The tour guide was stunned. For a moment, he processed the sheer cruelty of the statement. Then, without a word, he continued driving. But instead of finishing the tour, he took an unexpected detour, heading into a remote part of Belfast.
Stopping the car, he turned to the Israeli and simply said:
“Get out.”
The tourist protested, confused and angry, but the guide didn’t engage. He shut the door and drove off, leaving the man stranded in an unfamiliar and rough part of town.
The Aftermath
The Israeli later called the tour company and filed a complaint. Furious, he demanded action against the driver.
The company’s boss summoned the guide and asked for an explanation. The guide calmly recounted what had happened, including the chilling words the tourist had uttered about murdering children.
The boss listened, then exhaled sharply.
“So you just dropped him in the middle of nowhere?” he asked.
“Yes, that’s right,” the guide confirmed.
“And that’s all you did?”
“Yes, sir, that’s it.”
The boss shook his head, leaned back, and said:
“Jesus Christ, man. If that was me, I would have run him over too. Good job! Get back to work.”
The Irish Stand Against Injustice
There’s a reason the Irish have historically shown deep solidarity with Palestinians. Their own history of occupation, struggle, and oppression gives them an unshakable understanding of what it means to fight for freedom.
The moral of the story is clear: If you visit Ireland expecting sympathy for the murder of children, you’re in for a rude awakening. The Irish are tough, and they don’t tolerate that kind of hate.
Keywords: Belfast, Ireland, The Troubles, IRA, Palestine, Pro-Palestine Murals, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Irish Solidarity, Zionism, Political Tours
