School rejects paper’s accusation of antisemitism

The principal of a secondary school in Kerry has rejected claims made by an Israeli journalist of antisemitism and pro-Palestinian bias in the school.

John O’Connor, principal at Coláiste na Sceilge in Cahersiveen, said students and teachers always acted on “humanitarian basis”, and, far from indoctrination, the school instilled critical thinking.

A column by Sarah Honig in Israel’s English language daily, the Jerusalem Post, on Jan 25 tells of encountering antisemitic remarks and overwhelming bias towards Palestine during a school-backed fundraising event to help Palestinians buy olive trees (ultimately a Trócaire project) in Cahersiveen.