oatmeal<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Ireland" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Ireland</span></a> / Jewish leaders object to President Higgins' Holocaust Memorial speech over Israel criticism</p><p>Some representatives of the Jewish community in Ireland have voiced their objection to President Michael D Higgins delivering the keynote speech at the upcoming <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Holocaust" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Holocaust</span></a> Memorial Day commemoration. Their concerns stem from President Higgins' recent criticisms of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Israel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Israel</span></a>, which they deem misinformed, including allegations regarding a leaked letter to Iran and intentions to resettle Egypt. They also feel he has not adequately addressed rising antisemitism in Ireland. </p><p>President Higgins' office has responded, stating he has repeatedly addressed antisemitism, called for the release of hostages and an end to fighting, and clarified his remarks regarding the letter and settlements.</p><p><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/12/17/president-michael-d-higgins-accuses-israel-of-deep-slander-over-anti-semitic-claims/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">irishtimes.com/politics/2024/1</span><span class="invisible">2/17/president-michael-d-higgins-accuses-israel-of-deep-slander-over-anti-semitic-claims/</span></a></p><p>Reminder: Ireland's Chief Rabbi May 2024 (!) comments on civilian casualties in the genocide in Gaza:</p><p>[...] "I think… if you compare the ratios of civilians to terrorist casualties in this war, it's a very good ratio compared to other wars, historically. So there definitely are things that Israel could have done better, but overarchingly, yes, it's the responsibility of Hamas," he said.</p><p><a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41405711.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41</span><span class="invisible">405711.html</span></a></p><p><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/israel" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>israel</span></a></span><br><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/palestine" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@<span>palestine</span></a></span><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IsraelOccupation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IsraelOccupation</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/IsraelWarCrimes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>IsraelWarCrimes</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HolocaustMemorialDay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HolocaustMemorialDay</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MichaelDHiggins" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MichaelDHiggins</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GazaGenocide" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>GazaGenocide</span></a></p>