Critics decry Michael D Higgins speech for Holocaust Memorial Day, politicians’ stance on Gaza and the Occupied Territories Bill
Michael D Higgins arrives at the Mansion House, Dublin, last month, to give a Holocaust Memorial Day speech. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
Maurice Cohen, left, who chairs the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, with Michael D Higgins. File photograph “No democratic or sane government would consider bringing these horrendous ramifications on its own citizens, which is surely the first obligation of any governing body.”and the American Civil Liberties Union have said that the definition can be used to shut down legitimate criticism of the Israeli government – and that more accurate definitions have since been devised.
“It is part of a smear campaign to shut down critique and criticism of Israel’s abhorrent violence in Gaza. They know Ireland is a soft power and they want to damage it. The worst thing the government can do is start caving in,” the University College Dublin academic says. “The best one can say about it is that it was highly inappropriate and insensitive. It was also unnecessary: you have people with an open wound and you are throwing salt in that wound with vim and vigour”.
He drew attention to the parts of the President’s speech which highlighted how Holocaust Memorial Day presented an important opportunity to ensure the message it taught must never be lost with the passage of time. “But at the same time, there has been a noticeable rise in incidents of hatred towards Jewish people in Ireland since October 7th.
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