Israel's ambassador accuses Irish Government of not being 'politically neutral'

Israel's ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich said the Jewish and Israeli community in Ireland are concerned for their safety amid the response to the war in Gaza. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

The Israeli ambassador in Dublin has accused the Irish Government of not being “politically neutral”, when it comes to the Israel-Hamas conflict, and said people in Ireland are “afraid to speak publicly” in support of Israel.

Dana Erlich told reporters that she had seen persistent criticism towards Israel from Ireland, and said there’d been a “specific, targeted campaign” against her here.

“We’re on another front trying to deal with anti-Israel hatred,” she said.

Ms Erlich also claimed that the Jewish and Israeli community in Ireland are concerned for their safety, amid the response to the war in Gaza, and that calls of “from the river to the sea” at pro-Palestinian marches called for the erasure of Israel.

The Israeli embassy yesterday invited journalists in to watch a 43-minute video collected from Hamas terrorists, CCTV footage, emergency services, and from the cameras of victims, all showing the terror attack on October 7 which saw 1,400 Israelis killed.

Israeli officials in countries such as Britain, Australia, and Belgium, have also held screenings of this video for members of the media.

Since this attack, Israel has bombarded the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, killing over 10,000 people according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Around 40% of those killed have been children, it said.

The Israeli ambassador to Ireland said she would invite all TDs and Senators in Ireland to watch the video.

She suggested it could be screened in Leinster House or elsewhere. Previously, Sinn Féin and People-Before-Profit have been among those calling for the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland to be expelled over Israel’s actions in the ongoing conflict.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said such calls did not represent a "common sense approach". 

The ambassador also said that there was “no [new] development” in relation to Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand (8). Having previously been presumed dead following the 7 October attack, it is now believed she has been abducted by Hamas and is one of hundreds being held hostage.

“I have spoken to her father and sister,” she said. “We’ve said we will do anything we can to help. The family have been through so much.”

Ms Erlich’s comments came as Israel said its forces are operating deep in Gaza City in their battle to wipe out Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, and that the Islamist militant group’s leader was trapped inside a bunker.

Gaza residents said earlier that Israeli tanks were positioned on the outskirts of Gaza City, Hamas’ stronghold in the north of the territory and home to about a third of its 2.3 million people before the hostilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in comments that offered the clearest indication yet that Israel plans to keep a tight grip over the strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, has said his country will take “overall security responsibility” for Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu also said he would consider hour-long “tactical little pauses” in fighting to allow aid to enter or hostages to leave Gaza, but again rejected calls for a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has said he is pushing his fellow EU leaders to agree to make a united call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that he has been “struck” by the number of children who have been killed and paid tribute to the “real heroes” the aid workers who have remained behind.  Mr Varadkar said: 

I have enormous fears, how long is this going to go on? How is this going to end?

“I know the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, promised ‘mighty vengeance’. Those are his words, not mine.

“That is valid when it comes to Hamas, the terrorists who killed those 1,400 people in Israel, but it is not when it comes to Palestinian civilians, far too many of whom have already been killed in this conflict.”