Sonya McGuinness, Ireland’s Ambassador to Israel since August 2023, has responded to accusations waged by Israel that Ireland is “antisemitic.”
In her December 19 op-ed for Haaretz, McGuinness said “we were deeply disappointed” to learn that Israel was planning to close its Embassy in Dublin.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that the Israeli Embassy in Dublin would be closing “in light of the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government.”
As part of the announcement, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said: “The actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state, along with double standards.
“Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel.”
The announcement that the Israeli Embassy in Dublin was closing, coupled with Sa’ar accusing Ireland of being “antisemitic,” gave way to a back-and-forth between the two countries in the following days.
Ireland continues to insist it is not antisemitic and that criticizing Israel does not make it antisemitic, while Israel continues to double down on its accusations.
Responding to the situation, McGuinness wrote in her op-ed on Thursday: “Ireland is not 'anti-Israel.' Ireland is not antisemitic. Ireland is not unsupportive of the desire of the Israeli people to live in peace and security.”
McGuinness said that in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks, she recognizes “that for many of my Israeli friends, it is hard to have your country criticized when you are suffering.”
However, she continued: “Cartoonish depictions of Irish policy do nothing to advance the just cause of mutual understanding. Ireland unreservedly condemned the brutal October 7 Hamas attack on Israel immediately and in stark terms. We continue to do so unreservedly.”
McGuinness says that Ireland continues to call for the unconditional release of all hostages, adding that she knows “the vast majority of Irish people have no sympathy for the terrorists that inflict such pain on ordinary people just trying to live their lives.”
Opinion | Ireland is not 'anti-Israel.' Criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza is not antisemitism https://t.co/X30SpiWWIw.
— Irish Embassy Israel (@EmbassyTLV) December 19, 2024
Echoing statements issued by Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin after the announcement of the Israeli Embassy’s closure, McGuinness said Ireland’s “foreign policy positions are guided by the principles of international law and the obligation on all states to adhere to international humanitarian law.”
She went on to explain what is driving Ireland's criticism of Israel: “The loss of so many innocent lives is unacceptable and contravenes international law. Irish people are seeing horrific images from Gaza on a daily basis. Thousands of dead bodies. Children maimed, missing arms and legs. Women desperately trying to find food for their families. Widespread destruction.
“It is these images that drive the daily news stories in Ireland about Gaza and the calls on our government to take action. There is not in fact a spontaneous outbreak of anti-Israeli sentiment but a determined appeal instead not to lose sight of the ideals that your country was founded on at a time of crisis and suffering. Our criticism is not happening in a vacuum."
McGuinness continued: “We reject the view that the policy positions taken by the Irish government are antisemitic; criticism is not antisemitism. Antisemitism is a serious issue that deserves a serious response and accusations of it should not be made for political point-scoring. It is a real problem in almost every country and, in Ireland, we are committed to playing our part to combat it.
"However, attempts to undermine our considered policy with accusations of antisemitism are a disservice to the objectives of those who wish to work constructively with Israel and a disservice to the cause of countering the scourge of racism and hatred.”
McGuinness went on to say that the Irish Government “accepts” that it holds a different view from Israel on how to achieve the goal of Israelis and Palestinians “living side by side in peace and security.”
She also noted how Ireland’s views are informed by its own experiences of conflict resolution in Northern Ireland.
“We have reaped the rich reward of peace – imperfect and built on hard compromises – and we want nothing more than for our Israeli and Palestinian friends to do the same,” she wrote.
Concluding her op-ed, McGuinness said: "Diplomacy is most valuable at times of difficulty,” adding that Ireland will continue to maintain diplomatic channels with Israel.
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