“There is a difference between criticism - and antisemitism based on the delegitimisation and dehumanisation of Israel and double standards towards Israel,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saarsaid in a statement.
I think there's more than some truth to the comment, though it's a bit rich for him to accuse another government or country of bigotry.I see Michael D has rowed in now, not surprisingly given his track record. I thought Simon Harris dealt with it very well, accurately describing it as deflection, so Michael D is not really adding value by keeping the row going. However, it is a disgraceful comment by their foreign minister and highlights the arrogance and entrenched views of him and his government.
He completely invented an allegation of antisemitism of the Irish people which was never made by any Israeli government minister.I see Michael D has rowed in now, not surprisingly given his track record.
He was better than the other options we had but has totally over stretched the role since day one in office. Good discussion on TV3 tonight where a guy from the Isreali Times basically said it was a low key issue over there as they had much more pressing issues to be worried about. As always, Irish media think we are the centre of the universe.He completely invented an allegation of antisemitism of the Irish people which was never made by any Israeli government minister.
Earlier in the year he implied the Israelis had covertly distributed a letter that the Iranian embassy had in fact put on its own website!
More generally the role of the President was clearly designed to be above daily politics and Michael D is continuously in breach of this. Even when I agree with him I would prefer if he had kept his mouth shut.
More generally the role of the President was clearly designed to be above daily politics and Michael D is continuously in breach of this. Even when I agree with him I would prefer if he had kept his mouth shut.
He completely invented an allegation of antisemitism of the Irish people which was never made by any Israeli government minister.
“Last night, the prime minister of Ireland, Simon Harris, the antisemite, said in an interview, ‘Ireland is not anti-Israel, but Ireland categorically opposes the starvation of children, and opposes categorically the killing of civilians,’” Sa’ar told reporters at a meeting of his New Hope Party.
“Israel starves children? When Jewish children died of hunger in the Holocaust, you were at best neutral in the war against Nazi Germany. Winston Churchill, during the war, in his speech on V-Day in Europe, noted how Ireland had carried on a love affair with Nazi Germany,” Jerusalem’s top diplomat said at the party faction meeting in the capital.
“And you call Israeli soldiers war criminals? You accuse the Jewish state, that was attacked on all fronts?” Sa’ar concluded, while highlighting the Israel Defense Forces’ efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.
In announcing the embassy closing, Sa’ar cited Ireland’s “antisemitic actions and rhetoric,” charging that they were based on “delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state and on double standards.”
Was that not after Michael D made his ascertain?Specifically, the Israeli allegation is that the Taoiseach is anti-semitic.
He also claimed last night that Israel wants settlements in Egypt which is just demonstrably false.He completely invented an allegation of antisemitism of the Irish people which was never made by any Israeli government minister.
Was that not after Michael D made his ascertain?
He also claimed last night that Israel wants settlements in Egypt which is just demonstrably false.
Complete silence from every Irish elected representative on this. I wonder would it be the case if the office-holder was making constant pro-Israel statements?
Both countries have gasbags in high office who don’t speak on behalf of either their government or their people.I believe that Sa'ar's statement was made on Monday and Higgins was responding to that. Happy to be corrected?
Higgins is a disgrace, no doubt. His utterances and letter writing have done Ireland no favours. I don't know what he is referencing with regard to Egypt, if he had said https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-12-17/ty-article/.premium/netanyahus-plan-to-promote-golan-heights-growth-is-amendment-to-decision-by-bennett-govt/00000193-d112-d4b3-adb3-f9f72cf20000 (Syria)he would have been correct.
Well said.Both countries have gasbags in high office who don’t speak on behalf of either their government or their people.
Maybe their comments should be treated with the derision they deserve.
I have absolutely no respect for Michael D Higgins. In my opinion he is an arrogant, hypocritical, bombastic blowhard who is utterly devoid of humility and thinks his opinion is more important than the constitutional integrity of his office.It appears we’re getting uptight about President Higgins. He is an intelligent man and despite his position, he is entitled to express his opinion especially when Ireland is under strong verbal attack from people who should know better. Let’s say our president stays silent - do you think that would be good? It’s time for some posters here to show him some respect.
I agree, they are far less popular than the Hamas terrorists who are the elected government of Gaza.The Israeli government and its leader are not too popular amongst their own people.
No he didn't. Where he did overstep, along with his government, was when he and they used the murder of over a thousand of their own people as an excuse for the destruction of Gaza and ethnic cleansing there and in the West Bank.Their Foreign Minister overstepped the mark in his comments. He should be made responsible for his accusations.
Agreed. They are surrounded by enemies who want to destroy them. The utterances of a country like Ireland, which has no credibility on the world stage, is of no consequence there.The subject is not flavour-of-the-month in Israel. They have more pressing issues.
A man who supported and eulogised mass murdering dictators who happened to support his childishly anti-American views only add to the contempt he should be held in for debasing the office he holds.But, Michael D is keeping the case in the limelight and deserves our support.
They didn't join the South African action.Norway and Spain took the same stance as Ireland, but they received nil criticism from Israel.
I agree. Why are we only interested in Israeli war criminals?Don’t forget - War Criminals are war criminals.
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