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In a curious twist, Israel announced its decision on 15 December to close its Embassy in Ireland.  Among the perceived slights against Israel, Ireland is accused of being extremely anti-Israel and, by some commentators, ‘the most antisemitic country in Europe’.  These accusations may seem farcical, but they represent a concerted effort by Israel to gaslight its detractors on the world stage.

The stated reason for this downturn in diplomatic relations is Ireland’s support for South Africa’s case to the International Court of Justice. That case alleges Israel has committed and is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza strip. In legally supporting South Africa’s case, Michael Martin, Ireland’s Foreign Minister said ‘There has been a collective punishment of the Palestinian people through the intent and impact of military actions of Israel in Gaza, leaving 44,000 dead and millions of civilians displaced. Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State.’

I have been appalled by Israel’s wanton bombardment of urban centres with the attendant and needless killing of civilians and children, and shocked by the brutal acts of members of the IDF, many of which have been captured on film. It is for the ICJ to adjudicate on the basis of all the available evidence.

Like many independent onlookers in the west, I was also disgusted by the attack by Hamas on October 7 that led to the deaths more than 1100 innocent people and the abduction of 251, some of whom have gone on to be killed over the past year.

So, I have always acknowledged Israel’s desire to bring the perpetrators of these unconscionable attacks and abductions to justice, to secure the release of hostages and prevent further such acts in the future. I find myself in solidarity with the Jewish people following the outrage to humanity that was the holocaust of World War Two, and I support fully their right to live in peace within the sovereign state of Israel.

I would therefore dread being called an antisemite by taking a view, based on the evidence I have seen, that Israel prima facie has a case to answer under International Law and International Humanitarian law in a number of key regards.

And yet, it appears to me, that Israel’s rush to decry Ireland because of the principled stance it is taking on events in Gaza is part of a concerted effort to label any international criticism as antisemitism.

I therefore find it interesting that Israel’s grievance is, at least in part, linked to Ireland’s decision not to endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s non-binding 2016 definition of antisemitism.

From my Christian perspective, the antisemitism definition appears relatively unproblematic. The definition itself comes with a list of illustrative examples, many of which, such as holocaust denial etc I could also not disagree with.  However, what likely gave Irish lawmakers pause for thought was the following illustrative example:

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity…  Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” 

By a certain interpretation, then, this example effectively would strike down any criticism of Israel for its actions in Gaza as antisemitic.  But this cannot be right.

The completely unconscionable attack that Israel suffered on October 7 can never be used as a justification to flatten whole cities in Gaza and Lebanon, killing thousands upon thousands of the innocent.  Nor allowing Zionist groups violently to expand their settlements in areas that fall outside the internationally recognised demarcation lines of modern Israel. Nor to occupy new territory in Golan, seizing the opportunity presented by Assad’s demise. Nor to launch massive ariel bombardments against any state with links to Iran, recognising, as I do, that country’s role in sponsoring attacks against Israel over many years.

In seeking to defend its sovereignty and to provide security for its people, Israel can never have a blank cheque to do whatsoever it wishes, and to whomsoever it chooses, under the armour of its own self-righteous blood lust. Or to claim some moral and legal protection from a non-binding definition of antisemitism that it uses to brook no criticism of its actions.

Following a Parliamentary vote, South Africa chose last year to cut its diplomatic ties with Israel, in the early stages of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.  There are no indications that Ireland was looking to do the same.  One irony here, of course, is that Israel has picked a fight with a country, in Ireland, that is as strongly supported, if not more so, by America. Israel has only been able to carry on its military offensives over the past year with US support and backing, and, I should think, decision makers in DC will feel uncomfortable about, and stay out of, this awkward diplomatic spat.

Israel has acted and is acting with a stunning lack of accountability for its actions and should, at the very least, respect the right diplomatically of states like Ireland and South Africa to raise a red flag.  It can continue, if it so wishes, to cut diplomatic ties with any state, but that does not absolve it from accountability under International Law.

Calling detractors antisemitic is intellectually and morally weak, and a lazy manifestation of diplomatic gaslighting. I believe prejudice, including against Jews, exists, sadly, in every society on earth. No right thinking person of my acquaintance likes an angry xenophobe, particularly those who, supported by a much bigger and more powerful friend, beats up on anyone in the playground who calls them out for their misdemeanours.  That, right now, is exactly how Israel appears to many. Israel is at risk of running out of friends in Europe, although its accountability before the law will not disappear.