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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”.
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