President Michael D. Higgins has faced sharp criticism from Oliver Sears, the son of a Holocaust survivor, for dismissing claims about rising antisemitism in Ireland.
Israeli ambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich, recently warned about increasing levels of antisemitism in the country.
However, President Higgins, in an interview with the Irish Examiner, dismissed these concerns as a “PR exercise” by an Israeli administration accused of breaching international law in Gaza.
“I think the Israeli ambassador has been deliberately suggesting that all people of Jewish belief are now at risk and are being threatened, and there is no evidence for this,” President Higgins said.
“It is simply something that is a PR exercise by an administration that is guilty of continuing— not historic—continuing breaches of international law as is happening in relation to the events in Gaza.”
He added, “It is absolutely outrageous to be abusing the Jewish community by saying that there is widespread antisemitism. The Irish people are not antisemitic, quite the opposite, for example, the first President here, Douglas Hyde, spoke Hebrew among the five languages that he spoke.
I don’t think it is helpful if people representing the Jewish state seek to encourage fear where it doesn’t exist by saying to people: ‘All of us now and anyone of Jewish faith must feel afraid,’ that is grossly irresponsible.”
In response, Oliver Sears, founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland (HAI), issued a scathing statement, calling President Higgins’ remarks “gravely insensitive.”
“I have lived in Ireland for almost 40 years,” Sears said. “In the last seven months, I have experienced a level of hostility towards Jews that I have never seen before: I have faced antisemitism to my face, encountered dismissiveness, and witnessed Jewish students and staff deeply concerned on university campuses.
There has been an explosion of online abuse, graffiti, and marches that include the flags of terrorist groups, where antisemitic chants can sometimes be heard. The media bias and the coarsened rhetoric from elected officials all contribute to a hostile reality for Irish Jews, and there has been a deafening silence from many.”
Sears also accused the president of lecturing the Jewish community. “President Higgins was informed recently by us at the HAI about the rising level of antisemitism in society,” he said.
“He refers to people of Jewish belief and of Jewish faith. No. We are Jews. Some of us are religious, many others are secular or simply, culturally Jewish.
Please understand that we are not monolithic but all share a very broad cultural link. Do not lecture us on whether Ireland is antisemitic or if the level of antisemitism has risen.
Antisemitism is a gentile disease which targets all Jews, because they are Jews.
“We feel the effects most acutely. As President of all Irish citizens, Michael D. Higgins should reflect the sentiments of the Jewish community when addressing antisemitism, rather than expressing his personal opinion, which may hold less value and ultimately do injustice to this minority ethnic group.”
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