If you never look at twitter I wonder how you know what Rachel says, given its one of her main platforms? Interesting.
Anyway cut and paste here. Post dated July 2025
And so Ireland is once again making waves internationally for its antisemitism problem. I have, in fact, publicly defended Ireland many times against claims that it is ‘the most antisemitic country in Europe’. I have said that this is a reductive description because, specifically with respect to physical violence, it demonstrably is not. Despite what my detractors say, I have tried to remain even-handed in my highlighting of antisemitism, extremism, and anti-Israel bias in this country. For context: with respect to my political positions I have been clear that, in my opinion, a ceasefire and hostage deal is urgently necessary. I have spoken out against West Bank settler violence and the systemic failure to hold these terrorists responsible. I am in favour of a two-state solution. However, the reality that I can deny no longer is this: Yes. Ireland is indeed one of the most antisemitic countries in Europe on most metrics, with the notable exception of physical violence. We have a significant portion of our society that is radicalised and they operate with impunity. Their actions range from waving flags of proscribed terrorist organisations (Hamas, Hezbollah, the PFLP), to vandalising property, to spitting on an Israeli tourist, to assaulting a Jewish student in the bathroom of a nightclub in Dublin. Our political and media establishments have both have a very serious institutional antisemitism problem. With respect to politics: we have observed an elected councillor in one of our largest political parties say that ‘the entire US economy is ruled by the Jews’. We have observed elected councillors in more fringe parties celebrate October 7th. We have observed our Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minster provide cover for our President after he spread a baseless conspiracy theory about the Israeli embassy in Dublin. With respect to the media: the anti-Israel bias that has infected the entire establishment—including our national broadcaster—is to such a degree that to call it propaganda at this point would not be hyperbolic. I have seen blatant disinformation reported in both The Irish Times and The Journal, which I was personally responsible for getting amended. Holocaust inversion is rampant and normalised in our media. For a country that claims to be ‘not antisemitic, just anti-genocide’, we constantly demean the industrial-scale genocide of Jews. Need I remind people that Jews were forcibly dragged out of our International Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration for a silent protest against our president politicising his keynote speech, which was one the Jewish community did not want him to give in the first place. On a personal note: the astounding viciousness that I have been subjected to personally, despite my moderate views, has shocked even Palestinian friends of mine. I have been subjected to death threats. Rape threats. Stalking. Consistent defamation against my identity and character. Maliciously cropped tweets to warp my words and intentions. The people who target me never go after what I say: it is always an attack on me as a person. I am constantly told I am not Irish, that I am not wanted here. People often say I am ‘brave’, but the reality is that I started speaking out not anticipating the sheer level of vicious hatred and cruelty that existed here towards Israelis and, yes, Jews. Perhaps if I had known, I would not have had the courage to speak up. In my opinion is banning trade with Israeli settlements antisemitic? No. As my friend
@arash_tehran
wrote: ‘it’s a policy followed by many patriotic Israelis themselves’. However, do I think Ireland’s decision to ban trade was driven by antisemitism? Yes. Because Ireland has a major institutional antisemitism problem. This is a fact that simply cannot be denied any longer by any reasonable person. The echo chamber Ireland is in on this issue must be penetrated at some point. Let it be now. Let us finally have the reckoning that is long overdue.