Letter: NASUWT sends a chilling message to teachers that it blindly supports the Palestinian cause and is a cold place for anyone who supports Israel

After October 7th, there has been the a co-ordinated effort to capture the ‘means of education’ and embed the Palestinian narrative in the hearts and minds of the younger generations.

From creches, to classrooms, to college campuses, the siege is real. The NASUWT teaching union’s effort to inject politics into classrooms and schools across Northern Ireland is a disservice to their profession, and sends a chilling message – that NASUWT is cold place for anyone who supports Israel and that the official line is to blindly support the Palestinian cause.

This is virtue signalling being funded by union members dues, rather than focusing on substantive issues such as school infrastructure or class sizes, the NASUWT are instead dedicating yet more time and energy to obsessing over a conflict hundreds of miles away and upon which their 'solidarity' will have no impact.

I note that a similar act of solidarity with Israel was not considered, after 1,300+ innocents were murdered and hundreds kidnapped, raped and burned alive by Hamas on October 7th.

This was the same union that criticised Paul Givan a few weeks ago for visiting Israel – the truth is now laid bare, this wasn't about the propriety of the visit, this was about the fact that the minister dared to stand with the Jewish state and refused to drink the Palestinian cool aid (or knock-off cola).

NASWUT's hypocrisy and loyalty to the Palestinian cause, should not be allowed detriment the education of a single child.

Daniel O'Dowd, The Ireland Israel Alliance