In responding to allegations of antisemitism, the president of Ireland falsely asserted that Israel is seeking to build a “settlement” in Egypt.
Michael D. Higgins issued the allegation on Tuesday, at a credentials ceremony for PLO “Ambassador” Jilan Abdaljamid and Ambassador of Italy Nicola Faganello, while answering questions about his country’s diplomatic crisis with Israel, which this week led Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to call Higgins an antisemite.
It’s a “very serious business to actually brand a people because in fact they disagree with Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu, who is in breach of so many bits of international law, and who has beached the sovereignty of three of his neighbors, in relation to Lebanon, Syria, and would like in fact actually to have a settlement into Egypt,” Higgins said.
His right hand shaking, Higgins, 83, added: “I think to suggest that because one criticizes Prime Minister Netanyahu, that is, one is antisemitic, is such a gross defamation and slander. Well, I have to say that originally when I was accepted [Israeli Ambassador Dana Erlich’s] credentials, I put it [comments about Irish policy] down to lack of experience, but then I saw later that it was part of a pattern to damage Ireland.”
Once an antisemitic liar – always an antisemitic liar.
Ireland's President reached a new low, spewing lies that Israel "has breached the sovereignty of three of his neighbors, in relation to Lebanon, Syria and would like in fact to have a settlement in Egypt."
Let's get the… https://t.co/cEbhqI4x17
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) December 17, 2024
Sa’ar on X responded with a post he headlined “Once an antisemitic liar—always an antisemitic liar.”
He tied Israeli actions in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza to its right to defend itself and said the reference to Egypt was “invented.” Israel uprooted communities it built in Sinai for peace with Egypt, he noted.
“And if we are discussing historical truths, let us not forget that Ireland was at best neutral during World War II. At that time, the free world was fighting Hitler’s axis while Ireland sat on the side and did nothing,” Sa’ar added.
On Sunday, Sa’ar ordered the closure of the embassy in Dublin, citing “antisemitic actions and rhetoric.” A long-time critic of Israel within the E.U., Ireland’s government escalated its anti-Israel rhetoric since Israel responded to the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, that triggered a multi-front war.
The shuttering of the diplomatic mission was announced after the Irish government approved a proposal to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.