Irish President Michael D. Higgins is under fire from Jewish leaders for his decision to deliver the keynote address at the National Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) commemoration in Dublin on January 26, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Critics, including the head of Ireland’s Jewish representative body and the Chief Rabbi, have questioned his suitability for the role, given past accusations of antisemitism.
Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, expressed concern over the decision:“It would be inappropriate for President Higgins to deliver the keynote speech at Holocaust Memorial Day. This solemn occasion demands respect, sensitivity, and a commitment to honouring the memory of victims. His participation risks offending many in the audience, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who expect dignity and unity on such a significant day.”
Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder echoed these concerns, citing the President’s perceived inaction on addressing antisemitism: “President Higgins has neglected even to acknowledge the scourge of contemporary antisemitism in Ireland, let alone do anything to address it. He has failed to take seriously the concerns put to him by representatives of the Jewish community, and back in May he described talk of antisemitism in Ireland as ‘a PR exercise.’ With that attitude, I fear his address marking Holocaust Memorial Day will inevitably ring hollow for many Irish Jews. It is so important that Irish politicians and public figures come together to honour the memory of victims of the Holocaust. Yet the awful irony is that many of them are turning a blind eye to a troubling increase in anti-Jewish hatred in Ireland today.”
President Higgins has previously drawn criticism for using his 2023 HMD address to advocate for Palestinian rights, calling for a ceasefire and “realising the rights of the Palestinian people.” Tensions have intensified since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, with some in Ireland’s Jewish community criticizing Higgins for what they see as a lack of balance in his statements.
* The Jewish Chronicle contributed to this article.
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