Attempts by the Israeli media to portray Ireland as antisemitic during the Tánaiste’s visit to the Middle East are simply ‘stirring the mud,’ according to the head of Holocaust Awareness Ireland.
Micheál Martin yesterday said it was ‘very shallow’ to label former president Éamon de Valera antisemitic based on his decision to send condolences to Germany following Hitler’s death.
He said there was ‘no suggestion at all’ that Ireland was antisemitic during his meetings with the Israeli Government – adding that he used the meetings to again make it clear to his Israeli counterparts that ‘Ireland is not anti-Israel’.
Ireland is regularly criticised in the Israeli press for its stance on the conflict between Israel and Palestine and last year, a Jerusalem Post opinion piece even asked, ‘Why does Ireland hate Israel?’
Honoured, humbled and moved to be at Yad Vashem in Israel today.
It is very important we never forget what happened during the Holocaust, or the enduring lessons learned through the darkest period of human history. pic.twitter.com/8ZakYC1JBk
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 5, 2023
Under questioning from local reporters, Minister Martin said it was ‘unfair’ to claim De Valera’s Hitler condolences were an example of Irish antisemitism, labelling it, “a very false connection and a very shallow one in terms of substance”.
“There is a lot of history about World War II and we are not going to find answers in a soundbite here today,” he added.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Holocaust Awareness Ireland founder Oliver Sears said the local press was simply trying to ‘stir the mud’.
He said Ireland has shown itself to be committed to Holocaust awareness – as has the Tánaiste himself.
“I think it's a great shame that, for instance, after he had just visited Yad Vashem, which is an incredibly significant place - the Memorial Museum of the Holocaust - that no one thought to ask him about his experience and his reflections, but rather tried to wrongfoot him and trap him into giving, as he said, a kind of easy sound bite,” he said.
“Ireland has changed unrecognisably since 1945 - April the 30th when Hitler died - and while that moment in time when De Valera extended his sympathies to the German embassy, was and is a terrible stain on Irish diplomacy - because certainly by then all the facts of the Nazi regime were known and there was simply no reason for De Valera to do that; there was no political capital for him to do that - Ireland now is actually a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
“It is one of only 35 countries that work together advising governments on tackling Holocaust awareness, anti-Semitism, making sure that Holocaust sites are protected and so on.”
Frank and open meeting with PM Benjamin @netanyahu and Minister Ron Dermer.
Discussed relations between Israel and Ireland.
Expressed our concern over recent violence in the West Bank, it’s impact on prospects for peace process, and our strong support for a two-state solution. pic.twitter.com/eXeWFBcMb6
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 5, 2023
Mr Sears said he can “also attest to the Tánaiste’s personal commitment” to Holocaust awareness.
“He visited my exhibition, called the Objects of Love, which was held in Dublin Castle last year, which tells the story of my own family’s escape from the Holocaust and many family members were murdered,” he said.
“You know what was interesting was that, when he turned up, his aide told him that, unfortunately, he didn't have the time to visit – but he said, ‘No, I need to visit this’ and he gave me 15 minutes and he went round.
“He really expressed incredible humility, respect, empathy and compassion, and he has certainly been very, very committed to Holocaust remembrance and is a friend to the Jewish community.”
Met today with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.
Constructive engagement on relations between our two countries.
Discussed tackling antisemitism, our concern over expansion of illegal settlements, and the centrality of a two-state solution to a just and lasting peace. pic.twitter.com/Ox0vo7SlZv
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 5, 2023
Minister Martin yesterday reiterated Ireland’s support for a two-state solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict and said he had a “very frank and open exchange of views” with his counterparts about Israel’s occupation of areas of the West Bank.
He also confirmed that he would not send condolences to Russia if President Vladimir Putin died.
