The Israeli Ambassador has urged candidates in the General Election to address antisemitism and claimed that many Jews in Ireland “do not feel safe”. 

Ireland has a very small Jewish population and in 2016, only 2,557 people recorded their religion as Judaism in the census. 

Nevertheless, numerous members of the community have raised concerns about a rise in antisemitism since the October 7th attack on Israel and some have even left the country. 

“A few weeks ago, a Jewish student was attacked in a pub in the city centre in Dublin,” Ambassador Dana Erlich told The Pat Kenny Show. 

“The Jewish community [and] the Israeli community are not feeling safe - this is antisemitism.” 

Ms Erlich said she can “accept criticism” but added that many people continue to hold Irish Jews and Israelis personally responsible for the actions of the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu. 

“I will separate political opinions - which every person and every Jewish person is entitled to - and attacking all of the Jewish community or all of the Israelis based on the political position of our current Government,” she said. 

“This is what antisemitism is and if the Jewish community in Ireland are not feeling safe at the moment, I’m asking Irish politicians running in the upcoming election, how are they making sure that the communities are safe?

“This is something that needs to be addressed.” 

ICC warrants

Yesterday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The Israeli Government described the warrants as “anti-semitic” and argued the IDF’s actions in Gaza amount to self-defence. 

Supporters of the ICC have accused the Israeli Government of misusing the word ‘antisemitism’ but Ms Erlich claimed international institutions single Israel out for special treatment. 

“What we see repeatedly is an attack on the most threatened and targeted nation in the world,” she said. 

“Which is the only State of the Jewish people; we see it by the UN - which has failed Israel and Israelis time and time again. 

“We see it now in the abuse of the international law mechanism.

“We do see it as modern antisemitism when you delegitimise the existence of Israel, when you deny the Jewish people their right to a homeland - that is antisemitism.” 

A controversial definition

According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which the Irish Government joined in 2011, antisemitism includes “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination”. 

The IHRA also describes “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” and “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the State of Israel” as antisemitic. 

The definition is controversial among some pro-Palestinian activists, who believe it mischaracterises their solidarity as racism.

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Main image shows Israel Ambassador Dana Erlich. Image: Newstalk