(Thursday, October 14, 2021) – The European Jewish Congress (EJC) has expressed outrage and slammed comments made by Irish Teachta Dála (TD) Catherine Connolly in a question to Foreign Minister Simon Coveney in which she continually used the term “Jewish supremacy.”
“We have seen far too many times in history when antisemites use their hatred of Jews to invert them as criminal perpetrators, all-powerful who see others as inferior,” said Dr Moshe Kantor, President of the EJC. “If you cannot find words to criticise the Israeli government without using ancient and well-trodden antisemitic motifs, then it is clear that the criticism comes from a darker place than a mere interest in the actions of another state.”
“Deputy Connolly may paint herself the victim of any backlash against these disgusting and disturbing comments that have not only slandered a whole people and an ancient millennia-old culture, but also Irish citizens of the Jewish faith. As such, it is surprising that in Minister Coveney ‘s response, he did not take her to task for this use of language.”
“If these words were used against any other minority, it is clear immediate action would be taken. Unfortunately, these words were not used in a vacuum and the political climate in Ireland has frequently mutated into antisemitism, which shows the need for urgent action,” Kantor added.
“We call on all Irish political leaders to demand an immediate apology from Deputy Connolly, and on the Oireachtas to adopt the non-legally binding IHRA working definition of antisemitism, as many other legislative bodies across the EU have already done”, he concluded.
