Higgins: Israeli ambassador 'irresponsible' in claims about level of antisemitism in Ireland
President Michael D Higgins said: 'I don't think it is helpful if people representing the Jewish state seek to encourage fear where it doesn't exist by saying to people: 'All of us now and anyone of Jewish faith must feel afraid', that is grossly irresponsible.' Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
President Michael D Higgins has denounced as "irresponsible" claims made by the Israeli ambassador about the level of antisemitism in Ireland.
Encouraging fear amongst the Jewish community in Ireland is "deeply irresponsible" and is simply a "PR exercise" by an administration that is guilty of breaching international law in Gaza, the President has told the Irish Examiner.
"I think the Israeli ambassador has been deliberately suggesting that all people of Jewish belief are now at risk and are being threatened and there is no evidence for this," President Higgins said.
"There are many people of Jewish faith who are as shocked as I am by the people, the mob, who attack a food convoy and take its flour and rice and scatter it on the ground," he said in reference to a number of aid trucks that have been stopped in Israel en route to the Gaza strip.
His comments came as Israeli ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich said Ireland's diplomatic, economic and humanitarian activities within Israeli borders will be reviewed in the wake of the decision to formally recognise the Palestinian state.
The ambassador has previously said she does not believe Ireland is politically neutral in respect of the Israel-Hamas conflict and has warned of rising antisemitism here.
President Higgins, who this week met with the new chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder in Áras an Uachtaráin, said: "It is absolutely outrageous to be abusing the Jewish community by saying that there is widespread anti-Semitism.
"I don't think it is helpful if people representing the Jewish state seek to encourage fear where it doesn't exist by saying to people: 'All of us now and anyone of Jewish faith must feel afraid', that is grossly irresponsible.
"It is simply something that is a PR exercise by an administration that is guilty of continuing — not historic — continuing breaches of international law as is happening in relation to the events in Gaza."
President Higgins added that it would be "very wrong" to blame members of the Jewish community for the actions of the Israeli government and stressed the importance of drawing a distinction between "faith, the state, the government, and a particular version of the government, not only Netanyahu but two extremists who are serving in the cabinet with him, one of whom has responsibility of the West Bank".
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has described the treatment of the Irish ambassador to Israel by the foreign ministry as "totally unacceptable" and "not within the parameters of acceptable norms".
Sonya McGuinness was shown footage of Hamas capturing hostages on October 7 when she was summoned to the Israeli foreign affairs ministry and reprimanded over Ireland's decision to recognise the state of Palestine this week.
"We anticipated there would have been engagement, we anticipated that the ambassador would have been called in, but it's the showing her the footage in front of Israeli national media which is something we haven't witnessed before in other countries or jurisdictions," Mr Martin said.
In a significant move, the UN's International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Israel to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in a landmark emergency ruling on South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide.
The court also ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid.
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