Tánaiste praises ambassador to Israel for rejecting suggestions Ireland is antisemitic

Sonya McGuinness with Israel's president Isaac Herzog. Picture: Israeli Presidents Office

The Tánaiste has praised Ireland’s ambassador to Israel, after she flatly rejected suggestions by Israel's foreign minister that the Irish State was antisemitic.

Gideon Saar had accused the Government of being antisemitic following a Dublin City Council motion to rename Herzog Park in Rathgar. 

The plan was dropped, however, after council officials said the regulations were not in place to allow renaming of parks, after legal advice was sought.

He described the motion itself as being antisemitic, with Ireland’s ambassador to Israel Sonya McGuinness, rejecting the assertions.

Ms McGuinness said Mr Saar was “ill-informed”.

“Minister, I’m glad to hear you mention the scourge of antisemitism,” McGuinness said.

“But I would’ve thought that it must be carefully managed and not used for political gain.

“Antisemitism is a scourge and must be countered, and therefore don’t you think facts are important?” 

In response, Mr Saar questioned why the motion was published on Friday, but only received attention from the Irish Government on Saturday after it was criticised by him and the Israeli president.

A plaque on a stone reads 'Herzog Park' commemorating Chaim Herzog, Israel's sixth president, who was born in Belfast, as Dublin City Council prepared a motion to rename 'Herzog Park' to 'Hind Rajab Park' after Hind Rajab from Gaza. Picture: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters

Ms McGuinness again rejected the assertions, describing Mr Saar as ill-informed.

Mr Harris praised Ms McGuinness, saying she “serves this country with distinction”.

“She speaks up for our values and she does a really good job and I’m extremely proud of the job Ambassador McGuinnes does,” Mr Harris added.

He said the Israeli government would not be able to “bully Ambassador McGuiness”, adding she is a “formidable public servant”.

The Tánaiste said Ireland’s values as a country “absolutely abhor antisemitism”.

“It’s on the rise. It’s on the rise in Ireland, it’s on the rise in Europe, it’s on the rise around the world.

“Antisemitism is disgusting and should always be condemned.” 

Mr Harris said it is “very different” to condemn the actions of the Israeli Government, which has breached international law and carried out genocide in Gaza.

However, the Tánaiste said he believed the proposal to rename Herzog Park should not have arisen, adding it is “insensitive”.

“I think it was ill conceived. It now turns out it wasn’t even legal in terms of their own structures and it caused a huge amount of hurt to our Jewish community.”