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Ethan Goldberg
Cybersecurity Expert

The Distortion of Holocaust Remembrance: When Memory Becomes Politics

Photo: Niall Carson/PA

Irish President Michael Higgins’ speech on International Holocaust Remembrance Day serves as yet another example of how the world remains more comfortable mourning dead Jews than protecting the living. The day, meant to commemorate the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis, was instead used as a platform to criticize Israel—the very nation founded as a refuge for Jews to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

Higgins not only drew a false equivalence between Israel’s war in Gaza and the Holocaust but also downplayed the ongoing plight of more than 90 hostages still held by Hamas after the October 7, 2023, massacre. While acknowledging the grief caused by Hamas’s brutal attack, his focus was overwhelmingly on the suffering in Gaza rather than the Jewish victims of terrorism. Worse, while he freely labeled Israel’s military response a “genocide,” he referred to the Holocaust as merely an “attempted genocide,” minimizing one of history’s greatest crimes.

His remarks sparked protests among attendees, with at least one individual forcibly removed by security. The question remains: what does any of this have to do with Holocaust remembrance? Criticism of Israel has its time and place, but using a solemn day meant to honor Holocaust victims to attack the Jewish state is deeply inappropriate.

Meanwhile, at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where 1.1 million Jews were murdered, only 50 survivors attended this year’s commemoration—down from 300 a decade ago and 1,000 two decades ago. As the number of living survivors dwindles, so does the firsthand testimony of the Holocaust, making it easier for figures like Higgins to manipulate its memory for political ends.

This comes at a time when antisemitism is surging to levels unseen since World War II. Public figures, including Elon Musk, have made remarks downplaying past atrocities, reinforcing the dangerous notion that it is time to “move beyond” Holocaust remembrance. As these distortions multiply, the world must remain vigilant of against the erosion of historical truth.

Holocaust remembrance is not just about the past—it is a warning for the present and future. The increasing politicization of this history risks undermining its crucial lessons, and Higgins’ speech is a troubling example of how easily memory can be weaponized for political agendas. Now, more than ever, the focus must remain on preserving the truth, combating antisemitism, and ensuring that “Never Again” does not become an empty slogan.

About the Author
Ethan Goldberg is a cybersecurity expert specializing in cyber warfare, focusing on strategic defense and offensive tactics. He leads several technological initiatives and has extensive expertise in the dynamics and influence of social media in modern information warfare.
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