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The Social Democrats have selected law student Hugo Mills as their Dún Laoghaire candidate in the local elections, following their decision to de-select candidate Orli Degani who is now standing as an independent.
Ms Degani, a German-born Jewish woman with Israeli citizenship, fell-out with the Social Democrats over the party’s stance on the war in Gaza.
In a statement after the decision to deselect her, Ms Degani said it happened “for reasons which are an affront to the values of equality and inclusivity I have come to know since immigrating to these shores”.
She added that she had raised a concern that has been growing in the local Jewish community “where local people like me were feeling more and more unwelcome and unsafe in Ireland and in Dún Laoghaire”.
“And I sought to constructively engage internally and raise these concerns,” she said.
In a subsequent statement, the Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns defended her party saying: “Ms Degani was deselected after a number of failed attempts to resolve issues. Those efforts extended to hiring an external mediator as well as an internal review by our National Executive. There was nothing discriminatory, or unfair, about the process.”
She added: “The Social Democrats have a very clear and strong position on the genocide in Gaza. There must be an immediate ceasefire; the hostages must be returned; there must be accountability for war crimes; and there must be economic and diplomatic sanctions on Israel.
The Cork West TD also said: “The Social Democrats remain absolutely committed to standing with the people of Gaza. We vehemently oppose the genocide, torture and famine being inflicted on them by an apartheid and ruthless occupying state.”
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