Irish Examiner view: Words are weapons in war for minds

Taoiseach echoed a Biblical parable when welcoming the news of Emily Hand's release — but saying she was 'lost' rather than 'kidnapped' has angered Israel's foreign minister

Israel's foreign minister Eli Cohen and Tánaiste Micheál Martin speaking with Haim Peretz whose town in Israel had been attacked by Hamas on November 16. Now, Mr Cohen has responded angrily to the way Taoiseach Leo Varadkar phrased his welcome for the release of Emily Hand. Picture: Miri Shimonovich

The perils of statecraft via social media were amply illustrated when misunderstanding — some might say it was wilful — arose from comments made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after the release of Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand, 9, kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri, and her joyful reunion with her family some 50 days after attacks by Hamas terrorists.

Mr Varadkar angered the Israeli foreign minister with his original tweet: “This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.”