Israeli FM Calls Ireland’s President ‘Antisemitic Liar’ Amid Dispute Over Dublin’s Support for Gaza Genocide Case at ICJ

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called Irish President Michael Higgins an “antisemitic liar” after Higgins denied accusations that Ireland was using “antisemitic rhetoric” against Israel. The dispute follows Ireland’s decision to join South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Israel announced on Sunday its decision to shut down its embassy in Dublin. The move follows what it called Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies,” including recognition of a Palestinian state and support for legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Sa’ar issued a statement blaming “the actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel,” accusing Dublin of crossing “every red line” in its relations with the occupation state, citing double standards and delegitimization of Israel.

Higgins responded saying that for Sa’ar to say that the Irish people are anti-Semitic was “deep slander”.

“It is a very serious business to actually brand a people because of the fact they disagree with prime minister Netanyahu who is in breach of so many bits of international law and has breached the sovereignty of Lebanon, Syria and would like to have settlement in each of them,” The president said.

President Michael D Higgins has said that to say the Irish people are anti-Semitic is a "gross defamation and slander", and it is a "very serious business" to do so simply because people disagree with the actions of the Israeli Prime Minister.
Read more: https://t.co/hXpBuN3cHp pic.twitter.com/8axNrZ6YOB

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 17, 2024

Sa’ar in turn reacted by saying on X: “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’.”

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

Ireland has been vocal in its criticism of Israel’s crimes in Gaza. In October, during the war, Irish lawmakers called for the expulsion of Israel’s ambassador from Dublin.

In May, Ireland recognised a Palestinian state, and announced last week it would formally intervene at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.