It is “a very serious business” and a “deep slander” to label the Irish people anti-Semitic because they oppose the Israeli Prime Minister’s conduct, according to President Michael D. Higgins, reports RTE.
Benjamin Netanyahu has violated “so many bits of international law and the sovereignty of three of his neighbours,” according to President Higgins.
“I think to suggest that because one criticises Prime Minister Netahyahu one is anti-semetic is such a gross defamation and slander” .
He referred to Israeli Ambassador Dana Erlich, saying that after accepting her credentials, he “later realised the comments were part of a pattern to damage Ireland.” At first, he blamed the comments on her inexperience, reports RTE.
President Higgins spoke during the inauguration of Italian Ambassador Nicola Faganello and State of Palestine Ambassador Jilan Abdaljamid.
He reaffirmed his criticism of Hamas’s conduct on October 7, 2023, but said that Israel’s reaction had killed over 45,000 people in Gaza, including children.
The president claimed that the Irish stance was influenced by every aspect of the terrible violations of international law, reports RTE.
He went on to say that terms like occupation, dispossession, and so on are understood by the Irish mentality.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar defended Israel’s decision to shut its embassy in Dublin due to Ireland’s policies yesterday, accusing Taoiseach Simon Harris of anti-Semitism.
“There is a difference between criticism and anti-semitism based on the delegitimisation and dehumanisation of Israel and double standards towards Israel,” the minister said in a statement, reports RTE.
He pointed to a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice charging Israel of genocide for its campaign in Gaza, as well as Ireland’s backing for what he described as “politicised” proceedings against Israeli officials by the International Criminal Court.
“Ireland’s anti-Semitic Prime Minister Simon Harris said in an interview ‘Ireland is not anti-Israel but Ireland is absolutely anti the starvation of children’,” claimed Saar, reports RTE.
“Is Israel starving children?” he then questioned.
While Hamas is stealing supplies and using civilians as human shields, Mr. Saar said Israel is attempting to allow humanitarian goods to enter Gaza and avoid civilian fatalities.
A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said that he would “not be responding to personalised and false attacks and remains focused on the horrific war crimes being perpetrated in Gaza, standing up for human rights and international law, and reflecting the views of so many people across Ireland who are so concerned at the loss of innocent, civilian lives”, reports RTE.
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