Plan for 300 US jobs pulled amid concern over Sinn Féin stance on Israel
Stormont committee hears US firm shelved Northern Ireland investment amid concerns linked to Sinn Féin’s stance on Israel
A major US multinational pulled plans to create 300 jobs in Northern Ireland amid concerns linked to Sinn Féin’s political positions on Israel, a Stormont committee has heard.
Sinn Féin Economy minister Caoimhe Archibald declined to be drawn on the claim that global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald had been preparing to invest in the region, but halted that plan amid concern about her and the party’s stances on certain issues.
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley made the claim as the minister appeared before members of her Assembly scrutiny committee.
It is understood Mr Buckley was referring to Sinn Féin’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Later in the committee hearing, Department for Economy permanent secretary Ian Snowden confirmed that Cantor Fitzgerald had been planning to create up to 300 jobs in Northern Ireland but “unexpectedly” told Ms Archibald it had shelved the idea during a “quite short” meeting in the United States last March.
Sinn Féin is a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, and last year the party boycotted traditional St Patrick’s Day events at the White House in protest at President Donald Trump’s support for Israel.
Mr Trump’s secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick is the former chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald.
Mr Buckley put it to Ms Archibald that positions adopted by her and her party had torpedoed the deal.
“On 9/11, Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 employees who died in the World Trade Centre,” he said.
“There’s a serious concern that has been brought to me that the positions taken by you and your party may have impacted that decision not to invest.
“So has your department or Invest NI (Stormont’s business support agency) received feedback from any US-based investors expressing concern about your political statements, your public commentary, or reputational issues associated from your political party?”
Responding, Ms Archibald said: “Companies make decisions about why they invest or don’t invest based on their own commercial interests, and I think that’s absolutely a matter for them and, in terms of political positions or otherwise that people might hold, that’s for individuals, it’s for parties to express those as they feel.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
