Claims Ireland is anti-Semitic 'defamatory and untrue'- Senator McDowell
The US Ambassador to Israel, Mick Huckabee, launched a scathing attack against the Irish Government for progressing the Occupied Territories Bill. The bill would prohibit trade between the State and Israel's illegal settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Mr Huckabee called the bill, which was introduced by Independent Senator Frances Black, 'so stupid' and asked if it could be attributed to an act of 'diplomatic intoxication'. Taking to X, he wrote: 'Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness & propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to an act of diplomatic intoxication? It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up Ireland!'
He then asked Ireland to call the Israel Foreign Ministry to 'say sorry'. This comes as former minister for justice Alan Shatter heavily criticised the bill as it was given consideration at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
As a member of the Ireland Israel Alliance, the former Fine Gael TD repeatedly referred to the bill as a 'Father Ted' measure. He also compared it to how the Jews were targeted during the Second World War.
In the Seanad yesterday, Senator McDowell said claims that Ireland, its Government, or its Houses of Parliament were motivated by, or amounted, to anti-Semitism 'were grossly defamatory and untrue'.
He added: 'Our position on Gaza is shared by many Israeli Jews, including a former Israeli Prime Minister. It is simply defamatory and untrue to assert that Ireland's position on Gaza and recognition of the Palestinian state was motivated by anti-Semitism or hatred of Jews.'
Many US politicians have been highly critical of the bill in recent days, including Republic senator Lindsey Graham. He said: 'I hope that Ireland will reconsider their efforts to economically isolate Israel, as they are in a fight for their very existence.
'I do not believe these efforts would be well received in the United States and they certainly would not go unnoticed.' Republican congressman Pete Stauber said Ireland 'must reconsider' the Occupied Territories bill.
Taking to X, he wrote: 'Ireland is making a serious mistake. Banning the import of goods from Israeli businesses operating in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is not only antisemitic, but it also has serious ramifications for American businesses.'
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