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ISRAEL’S DEPUTY AMBASSADOR in Ireland has launched a scathing criticism of certain Irish protesters as “ignorant [and] anti-Semitic with an intensely rooted hatred of Jews.”
Nurit Tinari-Modai was speaking recently on Israeli military radio Galei Tzahal, where she was asked to describe Irish public opinion of Israel’s actions in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Tinari-Modai responded by saying there were three groups.
The first two consisted of those who defend Israel, and the silent majority who have no opinion on the conflict.
The top diplomat, however, described the third group as anti-Israel activists who are “ignorant [and] anti-Semitic, with an intensely rooted hatred of Jews.”
Tinari-Modai accused this faction of burning Israeli flags and vandalising shops that sell Israeli goods, adding: “This is the mob standing behind the call for boycotting Israeli goods.”
Responding to requests for clarification from TheJournal.ie today, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy said the Deputy Ambassador’s comments were directed only towards “a very small minority.”
There are many people who are against Israel’s actions who are decent citizens and well-intentioned, even among those who have protested.
The spokesperson also dismissed earlier claims circulating on social media over the weekend that, in her interview, Tinari-Modai referred to some Irish people as “heathen hordes.”
Tinari-Modai’s radio interview last Thursday was conducted in Hebrew, but the embassy has issued the following statement, which contains translated excerpts, and which TheJournal.ie is publishing in full.
During her interview with Israeli radio on Thursday the Deputy Ambassador, when asked about Irish opinion with regard to the current Hamas-Israel war, said that it “divided into three.”The Deputy Ambassador praised those who defend Israel in this country, saying “I would call them the Righteous among the Nations in modern terminology, I salute them morning and night.”She also praised the Irish government, saying that while in the past it was much more critical on this occasion it is taking a stance in accord with the rest of the EU and “is much more balanced.”The second group, the silent majority have no opinion as such.
Of the third group, anti-Israel activists, she said they were “ignorant, anti-Semitic, with an intensely rooted hatred of Jews, that under the disguise of caring for Palestinians they accuse Israel of crimes against humanity, that Israel is the embodiment of evil.
It is very hysterical. So they burn Israeli flags, they commit vandalism in shops that sell Israeli produce.
They threaten, they demonstrate in cities and towns. This is the mob standing behind the call for boycotting Israeli goods…..
It is frustrating, it is challenging, but we have no alternative but to win”.
Amnesty and others should be ashamed of themselves coming out with this kind of gift wrapped propaganda for Russia, theres only one side commiting war crimes and it aint Ukraine
@Buí agus Gorm: The rules of international humanitarian law are there to protect everyone. If you deny one side’s responsibilities you open up the Pandoras box. And a breach of international humanitarian law is not necessarily a war crime. War crimes are reserved for serious breaches. And you are right: the only war crimes that I have seen have come from the Russian side. But Amnesty should not be ashamed for standing up for international law.
@Nicholas McMurry: every rule is being broken by Russia who cares about the Russian pow’s getting a bit of a video taken of them they are getting off lightly.
@Nicholas McMurry: agreed. To put it simply, two wrongs don’t make a right.
Hang on a minute, they are not POW’s as Herr Putin has said it is not a “war”
I wonder if “organised” groups like paid Syrian mercenaries or Chechen terrorists are to be treated as POW’s? Given their track records of brutality and human rights abuses, they should be shot out of hand.
@Paul Shepherd: mercenaries are not entitled to combatant nor prisoners of war status afforded under the Geneva Convention. As for ‘terrorists’ if they are members of a local opposition, clearly identifiable and openly carrying weapons they are entitled to such status.
@D. Memery: I’m sure their victims will be relieved that their human rights will be respected.
@Paul Shepherd: perhaps you should direct your critism at the authors of the convention and the International Red Cross so! If you read the link you will note that although mercenaries are not entitled the combatant status they are permitted to be detained and tried for any crimes committed under civilian law.
If some dude came to my country and attacked my family n friends and then I captured him. I wouldn’t be caring if some yolk from the UN thought filming him was degrading. To be honest i probably wouldnt be keeping him alive in the first place.
@Rob Gale: What is the point in defending our values if we don’t have any?
I’m sorry but did Russia worry about all the innocents they have killed in cold blood? Women, children, the old and the sick. And those soldiers looked like middle Eastern blokes that joined up.
@Roy Dowling: oh b1. te me you @$$ wipe. I’m not gender biased I’m on the side of those unable to defend themselves. Why are there such €€jits here making such immature uneducated comments in the middle of a conflict.
@Anna Carr: hopefully I’ll never get close enough to you to b1.te you. People like you are why are to the problems of this world. You expect all men capable to defend themselves but no women are capable to defend themselves. Makes it more gender bias on your side.
I think Ukraine needs to take the high ground and not engage in tactics Putin would use.
Civilians didn’t sign up to the Geneva convention to protect Russian invaders. When this goes full guerilla warfare those sad phone calls will be public executions.
The general perception is that Putin started a war. I would suggest cautiously that Putin started an invasion. By way of Ukraine’s defence, a war began. Compare this war to the US troops exiting Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda (although already largely present with the country) carried out an invasion. Not a war. While I admire Zelenskyy’s bravery and hope the best for him, I can’t help but think he’s not being realistic in meeting Putin halfway. That Ireland voted to fast-track Ukraine into the EU will only stoke the fire. But then Ireland is just an EU provincial government. France / Netherlands who both vetoed the move is a tad more realistic.
have your say