The accusations of anti-Semitism levelled against the Taoiseach are "without justification or evidence", a Fine Gael TD has said.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Simon Harris as "Ireland's anti-Semitic Prime Minister", as he addressed the closure of the Israeli Embassy in Dublin.
Mr Saar announced the closure of the embassy over the weekend, claiming Ireland has "extreme anti-Israel tendencies".
Mr Harris rejected accusations of anti-Semitism last night, describing them as "personalised and false attacks".
The Taoiseach previously said Israel's decision to close the embassy is "diplomacy of distraction".
Criticism of Israel
On Newstalk Breakfast, Fine Gael TD Barry Ward said Mr Saar's claims of anti-Semitism against Mr Harris are "without justification or evidence".
Deputy Ward said Mr Saar has "politicised" the Irish Government's calls for the International Court of Justice to broaden its definition of genocide, as it claims Israel has engaged in the "collective punishment" of the Palestinian people.
"The ICJ has already given an advisory opinion that there are signs of what’s happening being genocide," he said.
"That is part of Ireland’s interaction with that court case."
'Nobody is going to silence Ireland.'
Taoiseach Simon Harris calls Israel's decision to close its embassy here 'diplomacy of distraction.' He also reacts to the Israeli ambassador calling Ireland's position on Israel 'extreme', on @PatKennyNT this morning. pic.twitter.com/LXARx7a7Vm
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) December 16, 2024
Deputy Ward said criticism of the Israeli Government's actions is not the same as anti-Semitism.
"What the Israeli State seems to have as a starting point is that criticism of Israel is seen as anti-Semitism," he said.
"They confuse always the difference between being critical of Israel and Israeli foreign and military policy as being the same as being anti-Jewish, or anti-Jews within Israel.
"Those two things are not the same."
Diplomacy
The TD said it is important for diplomacy for countries to be able to freely criticise each other's actions.
"The day when a state cannot be critical of another state because it’s afraid of being labelled something in relation to a whole ethnic group - which goes well beyond Israel - is a day when you completely stymy any kind of diplomatic discussion," he said.
The Jerusalem Post's former editor-in-chief Avi Mayer said many people in Israel view Ireland as being "exceedingly critical" of the State.
"There are certainly legitimate criticisms of Israel – Israel is not immune to criticism as no country should be, but it is unavoidable that there is an element of bias here that some may indeed attribute to anti-Semitism," he said.
Mr Mayer said Ireland's joining of the ICJ case is "beyond the bounds of political discourse" and a "regrettable decision".
He said he looks forward to a "brighter future in which discourse between these two countries is characterised by legitimate conversation and serious engagement".
It is not yet known when the Israeli Embassy in Ireland will officially close.
Feature image shows Simon Harris speaking to the media, Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie
