Taoiseach defends 'decent, inclusive' President Higgins after criticism of letter

"I'm not falling for the trap here, the trap from Israel, of 'let's talk about a letter'," said Simon Harris. "No — let's talk about the dying children."

Taoiseach Simon Harris said he had just come from a meeting where the Palestinian prime minister broke down in tears about children in his own country being killed by Israel today. File Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photo

The Taoiseach has launched a strong defence of President Michael D Higgins after fresh criticism described his claims that Israel circulated his letter of congratulations to the new Iranian president as "disturbing" and damaging to Jewish people.

Simon Harris said the President is a decent, inclusive individual, and people should be talking about the slaughter of children in Gaza and Lebanon, and not about a letter that was written two months ago.

The President said his July letter congratulating newly-elected president of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, was a standard diplomatic letter the likes of which he has written to many heads of state.

But Israel has criticised the letter which caused a backlash online, including from former world chess champion Garry Kasparov and some members of Fine Gael.

Holocaust Awareness Ireland described the President’s remarks, made in New York on Sunday where he addressed a United Nations event, as "disturbing" and said they fed into the old conspiracy theory that Jews are "perfidious and villainous".

Asked in New York tonight if the President should row back on the comments or clarify them, Mr Harris said the President said nothing of the sort in relation to people of Jewish faith.

President Michael D Higgins. Picture: Karlis Dzjamko

“The President of Ireland is a decent, inclusive individual,” he said.

“So let's be very clear — the President of Ireland was talking about how the Israeli Embassy amplified and circulated a letter that he had written in the normal diplomatic course with the Iranian president — full stop, end of.

“What is disgusting; what is despicable; is horrifying; what should offend, upset, and worry everybody of every faith and every religion – and I'm sure it does — is the brutal killing of children and the deliberate targeting of children. That's what's happening today.” 

Mr Harris said he had just come from a meeting where the Palestinian prime minister broke down in tears about children in his own country being killed by Israel today, with at least 21 children killed by Israel in Lebanon.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

“You'll excuse me for not getting overly exercised about the issue of a letter that's two months old,” he said.

“The President of Ireland did not suggest that Israel leaked a letter. The President suggested that they circulated it. I don't know where the letter came from. In fact, the letter was published on websites and the likes.

“Where the letter came from is utterly irrelevant to the issue at hand. What is relevant is that a State is today carrying out catastrophic actions against children.

“We made a decision in Government last week that we want to help some sick children come from Gaza to get lifesaving operations in Ireland.

“We can't even get them out. Aid can't get in, and sick children can't get out.

“So I'm not falling for the trap here, the trap from Israel, of 'let's talk about a letter'.

No — let's talk about the dying children.

“Let's talk about the failure of Israel to respect international law.

“Let's talk about the failure of some countries that will sit in that building tomorrow and talk about international law, who are refusing to call out Israel and its breaches of international law.

“This is a situation where children are dying because of the blatant breaching of international law.

“And I think the President made his position clear.” 

Speaking at the UN in New York on Sunday, President Higgins said he believed his letter had been circulated by the Israeli Embassy, but that he did not know how the Israelis obtained it.

It is understood that the Garda National Crime & Security Intelligence Service, which is the lead agency responsible for internal security, is carrying out inquiries on the matter.

This is believed to be a “fact-finding” exercise and not a formal investigation. It is thought that officers will be in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the President’s Office in relation to the matter.