'US economy is ruled by Jews' - Fine Gael councillor under fire for controversial comments

A Fine Gael Councillor has apologised for controversial remarks made at Monday night's Dublin City Council meeting.

Discussing a motion on the Occupied Territories Bill, Cllr Punam Rane, who represents the Kimmage Rathmines Ward, said that the "USA should have taken a stance but how many of you know that the entire US economy is ruled by the Jews, is ruled by Israel. They will never be able to take a stance".

"It will cripple the whole US economy if they take a stance. And therefore they're afraid of taking a stance. That will never happen," she said.

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People Before Profit Councillor Conor Reddy asked her to clarify the remarks, describing them as unhelpful.

"Her remarks on Jews controlling the American economy, I think that's tremendously unhelpful. We're all here in solidarity with Palestine.

"To equate Judaism and Zionism is ... a complete fallacy. It's wrong and I think we all stand against anti-Semitism and it would be helpful if she could withdraw that particular use of words," Cllr Reddy said.

In response Rane said she did not actually mean a particular community, before adding "today the US economy is ruled by Israel".

She said America is unable to take a stance on the conflict in the Middle East because of "their financial dependency" on Israel.

In a post on X on Tuesday morning, Rane publicly apologised for the comments, saying: "I completely withdraw my comments made at last night’s city council meeting in relation to a motion on the Occupied Territories Bill".

"It was wrong and I fully apologise for it," Rane added.

Dublin city councillors voted unanimously to support the Sinn Féin motion demanding the Irish Government enacts the Occupied Territories Bill and cut Irish trade ties with Israeli goods and services produced in the region.