Ireland, is this true?

[SR71Blackbird]

Wasn’t sure where to ask this but there’s a piece in the JC about antisemitism in the Irish curriculum. It seems legit but incredulous:

https://www.thejc.com/news/world/jews-are-jesus-killers-and-israel-is-uniquely-aggressive-what-irish-pupils-are-taught-dhqmypgo

Can anyone here verify?

My husband and his family are from the south. I don’t think southern Irish fully understand what it was like to live with that conflict ( maybe you do)
I don't think you realise how tone deaf this statement is? Firstly we are not "Southern Irish" we are Irish. Secondly we very much understood what it was like to live in Northern Ireland during the troubles it is a small island it impacted everything. I don't know how old some of the Irish posters on here are so for some they may not be as aware if the peace process came after for them. Not really sure though what point you were trying to make

It's clear to see that Israels campaign against is Ireland is simply because they can't believe that a country has the audacity to not avert their eyes from their war crimes. Simon Harris hasn't minced his word when talking talking about the acts carried out by the leader of Israel who has a warrant out for his arrest for the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. It's a shame that instead of trying to deflect from the crimes of their leader the Israeli government doesn't put their energy into ousting him and ending the shameful, illegal treatment of Palestinians. Palestinians have been speaking for years about their suffering under apartheid and occupation and Israel have failed to listen them, failed to end their racial segregation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and failed to uphold their obligations under International law. Here's hoping that in 2025 Israel get their house in order, remove all war criminals from their government and bring them to justice, and start respecting International law. It would be really great to see Israel hold their hands up and take responsibility for the immense suffering they caused and begin to make reparations to the all of the people they caused to suffer, I'm sure Ireland would be more than happy to support them in ending collective punishment and racial segregation once and for all.

Very well said 👏👏

the only Jewish country is being vilified
Israel isn't being vilified, the Israeli government is being strongly criticised for their deplorable and indefensible actions in Gaza.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2023/09/23/irelands-jews-a-small-community-that-has-made-a-rich-contribution-to-irish-life/

Another balanced and fair article here.

One quote in it:
It upsets us, living very peacefully here, to see Ireland presented [in Israel] as the most hostile country
— Maurice Cohen, Jewish Representative Council of Ireland

It does also talk about them speaking with Jews about 10 years ago Maurice Cohen "recalled how, when he interviewed elderly members of the community 10 years ago about experiencing anti-Semitism growing up in Ireland, “they said they didn’t – by and large they didn’t feel the pressures of anti-Semitism”, he said.
I do of course acknowledge there has been an increase in antisemitism which reflects the global increase and I am sure if he interviewed Jewish people today their responses would be different.

It is also interesting to note that the Jewish population is actually increasing, 30% since the last census and this growth is expected to continue.

I have not seen one single person deny her experience though 🙄 I have seen comment after comment accepting that there is antisemitism in Ireland and that, of course, it is not acceptable.

What I have NOT seen is the acceptance by you that antisemitism in Ireland is no worse than in any other country. Nor is it any more prevalent than any other form of racism.

Individual experiences of prejudice do not prove institutional or endemic antisemitism.

This insistence that Ireland, of all countries, is actually the worst in the world... is frankly bizarre.

And if it were indeed true that antisemitism is rife in Ireland, isn't it more important than ever that Israel retain their embassy and not abandon Jewish Israelis in Ireland?

I don't think Ireland needs to spend any time or effort refuting these ridiculously childish claims.

I'm not aware that anyone says Ireland is worst in the world. I think the issue is that Ireland has positioned itself as some sort of moral arbiter by engaging directly in the court case. It would never have become such an issue if people in Ireland and elsewhere hadn't pushed back with such extreme moral indignation and hadn't lumped everything together under the general slur of 'you cant criticise Israel without being called antisemitic' (many variations on this thread) as if that sums up the whole debate on both the diplomatic argument between 2 states and the issue of the experience of Jewish people in Ireland. I note that Rachel Moiselle herself has said she doesnt think Simon Harris is antisemitic for example.

I think the issue is that Ireland has positioned itself as some sort of moral arbiter by engaging directly in the court case.

Spot on, the Israeli government with their leader who has a warrant out for his arrest for the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts cannot bear that countries are attempting to hold them to account in a wholly legal way. How dare Ireland feel they have a moral imperative to intervene in a case of genocide against a country ran by a man who is facing war crimes charges, 'irrelevant' Ireland should know their place!

Extreme moral indignation?
Are you aware what the leaders of Israel have been charged with?

@SharonEllis

I don't know what you want us to say. Nobody has said that there is no antisemitism here. But we are saying it is no different to other European countries and the criticism of Israel by the government is not rooted in anti semitism.

That's spectator article is full of half truth and distortions. I won't pick through them all; but, yes cork council banned members of the Knesset from the city but it is specifically for as long as the war crimes and the occupation (of the occupied territories) continues. This largely symbolic act aims to condemn the Israeli government's actions.

It does not ban Israeli's or Jewish people from the city which would be utterly wrong.

It's all about perspective. Most Irish people think there is apartheid in Isreal, most Irish people think that Israel is committing war crimes at the very least. Ireland recognises Israel and Palestine and believes in a two state solution. Most Irish people think that Gaza has been occupied by Israel.

If you were in Ireland and found these beliefs uncomfortable. Well yes you are going to feel very uncomfortable here.

I don't see that Irish people are generally would be pinning this criticism on our newly arrived Israeli tech workers or on Irish Jewish people. There isn't a tradition of neo nazism here. I believe there has been one recent incident of a hate crime against a Jewish person. One too many, I think. but not an indication that the Jewish people are unsafe here.

Honestly, it just feels like gaslighting now. I'm aghast at some of the things said.

Yep we are the worst of the worst but Netanyahu? No, he's all sweetness and light 🙄

Anyone who does not feel moral indignation at the crimes of the Netanyahu government have lost their moral compass.

It's a weird old world when the country trying to get justice for the victims of war crimes is seen by some as more worthy of condemnation than the country committing those crimes.

Absolutely it's just going round in circles at this stage.

No one is denying anti semitism exists in Ireland like it does (to all our shame) in every other county in the world.

However it is Ireland that is singled out and why because of their stance on Palestine, it therefore shows the priorities of the Israeli government: not it's people but land and occupation.

Posters on here and engaging in the same distraction techniques as Netanyahu because when we are discussing Limerick a hundred years ago we are not discussing the daily murder and massacre of men, women and children.

There is a concerted effort to present Ireland in the worst possible light. This war published today.

FactCheck: False claims about Ireland's position on Gaza ramp up after embassy closure https://jrnl.ie/6574998

The thread is interesting in that it has moved from the idea that Ireland calls out evil as some sort of moral calling to an agreement that they call it out only when (a) it doesn't have economic costs, like condemning China; (b) it doesn't involve siding with Britain, eg against the Nazis or joining NATO; and (c) there is && all that can be done in concrete terms. Conveniently (some would say too conveniently) this narrows it down to Israel.

Is China in the Middle East? Why should people discuss China under 'Conflict in the Middle East' section? Why should Ireland join NATO if there is no need? Sorry but you don't make much sense.

This thread is interesting that posters will tie themselves in knots to condemn a country that is calling out a country potentially commiting a genocide .

There is none as blind as those that refuse to see.

Do you think Simon Harris is antisemitic?

I’m quoting from Irish people ( family members) from the south of Ireland who say that their experience was far removed from that of other family members who lived in the six counties . Calling me tone deaf for mentioning what Irish people have said is their experience is odd . It is possible some Irish people were affected more severely ( counties on the border) and others felt more remote and unaffected.

Just more gaslighting, I would just ignore it now.

That’s really good to hear.

Why should Ireland NOT stand up where they feel they must? Your response indicates that you are simply outraged that Ireland gave the nerve to get involved.

But why the hell shouldn't they? We are all obliged to speak out and stand up for others. Or maybe that's just an Irish sentiment.

Thanks. That’s helpful