Commenting, Mr Robinson said, “The phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is viewed by many people as a violent call to erase Israel and its population from existence. Ultimately however, it is Jewish people who feel the chilling effects of such slogans most acutely and that is the case with the graffiti on the wall of the Royal Victoria Hospital.
I have been contacted by local members of the Jewish community who believe that such sentiments should not be prominently displayed on the wall of one of our key acute hospitals. After the slogan appeared, a complaint was submitted to the Belfast Trust pointing out its offensive nature and requesting its removal.
However, more than five months later there has been no action from the Trust and the complaint has subsequently been escalated to the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman. They have shown exceptional patience before raising the matter publicly, but it is important the Trust provide an explanation why it has been allowed to remain.
No one should feel fear or intimidation when accessing health care. No Health Trust should allow such messaging on their wall, beside the main glider stop to their site in breach of their Section 75 obligations.
And though they'll try, no organisation or representative should seek to justify such graffiti when it's clearly upsetting to those within our minority Jewish community. Everyone deserves an explanation as to why it remains, but most particularly those from our Jewish community who see as directly pointing to them.”