The Irish president said that suggesting the Irish are anti-Semitic constitutes “profound slander”.

Comments from Michael D. Higgins follow claims by Israeli officials regarding the closure of the Israeli Embassy in Ireland.

Israel’s foreign minister said Ireland had “extreme anti-Israeli tendencies” and described Taoiseach Simon Harris as “Ireland’s Anti-Semitic Prime Minister”.

Speaking at an accreditation ceremony for the Palestinian ambassador, President Higgins strongly rejected the accusations.

“Profound slander”

“I think it’s very important, as president of Ireland, to say that the Irish people are anti-Semitic is a profound slander,” he said.

“Every politician since I became president 13 years ago has said that anyone making Islamophobic or anti-Semitic remarks should be reported to law enforcement.

“It is a very serious matter to stigmatize people (with accusations of anti-Semitism) because they disagree with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is violating international law and who has violated the sovereignty of three of its neighbors regarding Lebanon and Syria.

President Higgins said that calling people anti-Semitic because they disagree with Israel’s actions in the Middle East constitutes “blatant slander and slander.”

“I think it’s a very serious matter to stigmatize a people – because they disagree with Prime Minister Netanyahu who violates many principles of international law and who has violated the sovereignty of three of his neighbors in relation to Lebanon – to suggest that criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu is anti-Semitic is libel and gross slander,” he said.

International response

President Higgins once again fully condemned Hamas for the October 7 attack, but noted that the international community’s long-term neglect of Palestine had led to it “sadly and tragically.”

He called for the return of the hostages and condemned Israel’s response to the attack.

“(The response led to) the deaths of 45,000 people in Gaza, approximately 17,000 children (and the) largest number of child amputees in the world,” President Higgins said.

He said Ireland’s position towards Israel was based on “violations of international law”.

President Higgins said Ireland would not be “diverted” from respecting international law and pledged to “do everything possible” to end the suffering in Gaza.

The main image shows President Higgins with Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid during the presentation of credentials as the first full Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ireland at a ceremony in Aras an Uachtarain. Peak Maxwell’s