On Sunday, 15th December, Israel announced it would close its embassy in Dublin. This decision was in response to criticism from the Irish government about Israel’s violent actions against the Palestinians. Following the announcement, social media was filled with anti-Irish comments. These came from Israeli journalists, British Zionists, ambassadors, and internet users. Many of them repeated unproven claims of anti-Semitism to distract from Irish criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
This social media onslaught is a deliberate campaign by the Israeli state. Israel has organised thousands of people, including activists, journalists, and military personnel, to counter criticism online. Some are paid while others receive benefits, e.g. NGOs. Only a few work for free.
When Europeans criticise Israel, the response often involves accusations of anti-Semitism. In Ireland’s case, some claim this bias comes from either Christianity or Irish nationalism. However, there is little evidence of anti-Semitism in Ireland. Historically, Ireland created space for Jewish communities, starting with de Valera. There are no and there were no laws or policies that discriminate against them. Irish Jews also do not face significant targeted violence.No significant Irish organisation or individual has a problem with Jews, let alone preaching policies of discrimination against them.
The accusations against Ireland are a strategy to suppress criticism of Israel. Ireland is not involved in colonising or killing large numbers of people, unlike Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Instead, these false claims are part of a larger campaign to smear Ireland and protect Israel’s image. The Irish government, for all its flaws, is not overseeing the colonisation and murder of tens of thousands of natives.
Israel argues it is a safe haven for Jews, but it heavily relies on Western support to survive. This includes lobbying Western governments and influencing policies. For example, such efforts contributed to the removal of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the British Labour Party. Without Western support, Israel’s existence as it stands today would be in question. Israel tries to use Jews as a battering ram against Arabs on behalf of US imperialism.
Israel is powerful, partly because of its close ties to the United States. It receives advanced weapons, billions in aid, and significant technological support. Some pro-Israel writers point out Ireland’s economic dependence on American companies, suggesting this could harm Ireland if these companies pull out. This highlights the risk of relying too much on foreign powers.
If Ireland wants to continue supporting Palestine and opposing colonialism, it must rethink its dependence on the United States. Ireland’s government, while aligning with Western policies on issues like the Ukraine, is now seeing the limits of its independence. To truly stand as an independent nation, Ireland needs to build a self-reliant economy – a planned socialist economy. In the meantime, anti-Irish propaganda from pro-Israel groups should be dismissed.