Tánaiste Micheál Martin has given credence to outrageous slurs, made by the Israeli ambassador, by endorsing a disputed IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin’s endorsement of a disputed IHRA definition of anti-Semitism has given the Israeli ambassador carte blanche to describe President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Simon Harris as anti-Semitic, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon.
“In today’s Sunday Independent, outgoing Israeli ambassador Dana Erlich accuses Taoiseach Simon Harris of being anti-Semitic and claims President Michael D Higgins is “fostering incitement” and being “anti-Israel”.
“In relation to Simon Harris, Ms Erlich cites “the initiatives he is promoting”, “his remarks about Israel” and “anti-Israeli steps that are being taken … that obsession against Israel” as the reasons she views him as “crossing the line into the definition of anti-Semitism”.
“Although not explicitly stated, Ms Erlich is clearly relying on the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism – in which criticism of the state of Israel is conflated with anti-Semitism – to make scurrilous accusations against the Taoiseach. Similar reasons are put forward to level the same charge against our head of state.
“This is the reason the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism should not be adopted by this country. Legitimate criticism of the state of Israel is not anti-Semitic. Adopting a definition that claims it is gives Israeli government officials carte blanche to conflate the two in an attempt to silence their critics.
“It beggars belief that Tánaiste Micheál Martin has given credence to the outrageous slurs, made by the Israeli ambassador, by endorsing this disputed IHRA definition.
“The Tánaiste should now be asked if he agrees with Ms Erlich – because the definition she is now weaponising is one that he has endorsed.
“If he does not, then he must reverse the decision to endorse this disputed definition – which has been criticised by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and many other human rights organisations.”
19 January, 2025