The Strange Case Of The Gaslighting Irish

Illustrative photo depicting the ruptured ties between Israel and Ireland, AI generated with Ideogram 2.0

For Israelis and Jews, the world we are navigating since October 7th feels barely recognizable. Yet, taking the long view of Jewish history—or Israel’s relatively short one—our existence has always been marked by struggle.

Since its foundation in 1948, Israel has never truly known peace, existing in states of crisis of varying magnitude. What was destroyed on October 7th was not just a sense of innocence but also our belief that managing crises could ever be a sustainable long-term strategy.

Why Does the Post-October 7th World Feel So Foreign?

What is it about today’s world that feels so profoundly disturbing? It’s the rapid mutation of anti-Israel sentiment into something much more sinister: the familiar face of anti-Semitism, accompanied by delegitimization and ostracization. This shift has been neither slow nor gradual—it’s as if the pendulum swung overnight, barely after the dust settled on October 7th.

We’ve long taken solace in the idea that no matter how bad anti-Semitism becomes, we now have a state and an army. But the subtext—that nations may not annihilate us militarily but will use other means to delegitimize us—has become harder to ignore. This helps explain why questions like “Why does Ireland hate us so much?” have become pressing topics within Israel and the Jewish world.

Ireland’s Approach to Israel: Dishonest, Delusional, Malicious

Israelis find Ireland’s longstanding hostility both perplexing and difficult to reconcile. The schism between these two nations cannot be explained solely through simplistic metaphors. Recently, Ireland announced its intent to join a legal persecution of Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on irrational grounds, while its Prime Minister simultaneously claimed Ireland is “not anti-Israel.” This duplicity underscores Ireland’s role as ringleader in Europe’s efforts to ostracize Israel.

Optimism about future relations seems unwarranted. Regardless of political shifts in Ireland—whether left or right—hostility toward Israel remains constant. When Simon Harris became Prime Minister in April 2024, he simply continued his predecessor’s anti-Israel policies while claiming to pursue peace. Yet this supposed commitment to peace seems limited to targeting Israel alone.

In Irish elections, opposition to Israel has become a key differentiator among candidates eager to outdo one another in punishing Israel. Addressing domestic issues like housing or healthcare often takes a backseat to Israel-bashing—a trend that never seems to go out of vogue in Ireland.

Although more balanced EU nations have rebuffed Ireland’s efforts thus far, it’s hard to overstate the damage they’ve attempted. Ireland sought to undermine EU-Israel relations by proposing that foundational agreements be torn up—essentially creating a kangaroo court with predetermined conclusions against Israel. This attempt at diplomatic sabotage aimed to harm Israel as much as possible without firing a single bullet.

The rot of anti-Israelism in Ireland starts at the top. President Michael D. Higgins has accused Israeli diplomats and Jewish representatives of hyperbole when raising concerns about rising anti-Semitism in Ireland—a claim starkly contradicted by incidents like the recent beating of an American wearing a Jewish symbol in Dublin. Such dismissals echo troubling historical parallels where Jewish warnings about anti-Semitism were ignored.

Ireland’s hypocrisy extends further. When anti-Jewish stereotypes were found in Irish school curricula, the Department of Education dismissed these concerns outright. And if there was a single incident that epitomized Ireland-Israel tensions, it was a women’s basketball game where Irish players protested against their Israeli counterparts by turning their backs during the national anthem—a move celebrated uncritically in Ireland.

Ireland’s Simon Harris, who at 37 seemed to bode better tidings for Ireland’s interrelationships, but soon proved himself to be a new chip off the old block. Photo: Wikimedia (Creative Commons)

Ireland’s Uniqueness: The Monolithic Nature Of Its Anti-Israel Agitation

Ireland’s hostility toward Israel is not unique in Europe but stands out for its unanimity and intensity.

While other nations may criticize Israel, they often engage as honest brokers or dialogue partners. In contrast, Ireland tolerates rhetoric openly endorsing Israel’s destruction without consequence.

Members of Parliament who support violent “resistance” against Israel retain their seats or are re-elected, while those who espouse classic anti-Semitic tropes face minimal repercussions.

This lack of accountability creates an environment where anti-Israel sentiment dominates public discourse unchallenged. Even minor deviations from this norm invite vitriol: an Israeli expat was reportedly denied candidacy by an Irish political party for not aligning with its monolithic anti-Israel stance.

The hostility extends beyond politics into culture and society. A theater receiving state support hosted a comedian who denied atrocities committed on October 7th, while a politician faced national outrage for failing to disclose earnings from an Israeli company—his association with Israel deemed an unforgivable sin.

Flags of the European Union. Generation: DALLE2.

Closing the Embassy: A Pragmatic Decision

Given this relentless animosity, it is commendable that Israel has chosen to close its embassy in Dublin—a small act of diplomatic self-respect and pragmatism. Critics like Yair Lapid argue that such moves play into the hands of Israel’s detractors and that persistent engagement might eventually break down hostility. However, this approach borders on blaming ourselves for others’ hatred and ignores the futility of engaging with those determined to vilify us.

Diplomacy has its limits. Nothing about Ireland’s actions suggests any potential for change; its trajectory is one of increasing hostility toward Israel. By closing the embassy, Israel acknowledges this reality and asserts its red lines for bilateral relationships worth investing taxpayer money into.

This decision also challenges Ireland’s self-proclaimed neutrality—a stance that rings hollow given its alignment with groups hostile to Israel. True neutrality requires moral clarity; staying neutral in the face of movements seeking our destruction is neither tenable nor virtuous.

A Shift Toward Pragmatism

Shuttering the Dublin mission reflects a broader shift in Israeli foreign policy toward pragmatism over idealism. It recognizes that geopolitical relationships cannot always fit neatly into traditional alliances or blocs and that engagement levels with EU member states can vary based on their actions rather than rhetoric.

From a budgetary standpoint, reallocating resources from unproductive missions like Dublin is prudent. Historically, countries where Israel has closed embassies include Iran and Mauritania—nations overtly hostile or inaccessible to Israelis. While Irish law still allows Israelis entry, the atmosphere of hostility renders this distinction almost meaningless.

Opening A Door To Better Paths

The closure of Israel’s embassy in Dublin restores dignity to its foreign policy and signals that relations must be based on mutual respect rather than enduring one-sided animosity. While it’s uncertain how this decision will shape future relations between Israel and Ireland—or within broader international dynamics—it marks an important step toward asserting self-respect on the global stage.

In closing this acrimonious chapter with Ireland, we hope it opens doors to brighter opportunities elsewhere.