
Israel-Ireland Tensions Rise
Irish President Michael D. Higgins has stood firm against calls to cancel his upcoming address at the National Holocaust Memorial Day event, following sharp criticism from Israel’s outgoing ambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich.
Ms. Erlich accused President Higgins of harboring “anti-Israeli” sentiments and argued that his presence at the event, scheduled for Sunday at Dublin's Mansion House, could overshadow its solemn purpose. “The fact that, right now, we are not talking about the event, but we are talking about his presence... distracts from the event,” she remarked in an interview.
Tensions between Ireland and Israel have escalated in recent months. In December, Israel announced plans to close its Dublin embassy, citing Ireland’s recognition of the Palestinian state and its efforts to ban imports from Occupied Palestinian Territories as evidence of “antisemitic rhetoric” and “extreme anti-Israel policies.”
President Higgins has strongly rejected these accusations, describing them as a “deep slander” and “gross defamation” aimed at damaging Ireland’s reputation. A statement from his office emphasized his consistent condemnation of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of racism. “Evidence of this is clear on the public record... and through his life’s work,” the statement read.
The statement also underscored President Higgins' hopes for peace in the Middle East, advocating for a ceasefire and a lasting diplomatic resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. “The President received an invitation from Holocaust Education Ireland to address what is an important, solemn, and public occasion commemorating a genocide which we must never forget and from which we must learn,” it concluded.
This year marks the seventh time President Higgins will speak at Ireland's National Holocaust Memorial Day, an event dedicated to remembering the Holocaust and promoting education to combat antisemitism.