Once again, thank you, Pat! I have been so disturbed by the news about Ireland's antisemitic support of the Palestinians. The main reason is that it seems so shockingly ignorant given that the majority of Palestinians, especially those in Gaza are viciously homophobic and deny women any reproductive rights (as I've talked about before). So it seems the Irish, like Western college students believe that all Palestinian woman and LGBT people should have no human rights, although they ardently support these rights for themselves and others in their countries. It's a case of any horror is permissible as long as it furthers the goal of a genocide against Jews. The second reason is that I very much see Israel as the world's most successful de-colonialization project. And so I am amazed that the Irish support the recolonization of the Jews by the Muslims. But the reason that hits me hardest is that my mother, whose own mother had been deserted by her Cherokee lover (my mother's biological father, raised us to believe we were 50% Irish (not 25%). She was a passionate supporter of Ireland and loathed colonialism such as the Jews have suffered for so long before Israel and she resented the diaspora Irish Catholics like her grandparents had been forced into. Their shared provisional status as semi-white Americans was one of the things she had in common with my father (of Middle Eastern and African Jewish heritage). Those horrible textbooks would have made her ill! But your explanation works well for me. I would add that maybe it's also a way for the Irish who still hold to Catholicism to slam Judaism without seeming religiously biased, as religious hatred has been forbidden since Vatican Two. Because it's pretty hard to have anything but a wildly distorted version of Judaism without acknowledging the way prayers and sacred writings of Judaism all affirm that there is an actual place in the world called Israel and that it is the ancestral home of the Jews. So saying that one hates Zionists and they should all be killed is the same as saying all traditionally religious Jews should be killed. In any case, you made my transition back from a quiet, no news vacation a lt less stressful by addressing this problem so eloquently.
A thought experiment: suppose the Irish had insisted that Irland must include all the British Isles, and that Brittons are "Franco-Norman colonialists" that shold "move back" to France, how much traction would that get? Zero. Because it is false, stupid, and hatefull. Yet they vomit ridiculous ideas like that about us. Definitely antizionism derangement syndrom is at play.
How can the Irish make such mockery of their own history? The IRA would never dream of being as evil has Hamas. They chose peace, not endless intransigence. When they had a famine, they sought their fortune elsewhere, and flourished.
It's weird--whenever I meet an actual Irish person, they are quite friendly towards me (even after they find out that I'm Jewish). Maybe it's something in the water in that country? I honestly don't know.
I am Irish diaspora. I support Jewish people, as my mum and grandma mentored me this way. My GP was Jewish - he was brilliant. Although I'm a non Catholic Christian, my catholic relatives also are not antisemitic.
But I'm horrified at what I see portrayed from my home country
I like your theory. I am beginning to understand why Israel does not invest much in public relations. You are damned if you do, and you are damned if you don't. Just keep defending yourself.
Hi Pat and others - Thank you for the article about Irish antisemitism and anti-Zionism. I had been wondering. I would like to suggest one other possible "reason." It is that the Irish experienced colonialism at the hands of the British, big-time. Very, very maltreated! Shockingly so. I've always wondered if the pro-Palestinian activists might be able to connect with and direct that shame, indignation, anger, sense of victimization - from the British to Israel. It is certainly an unhealed wound, a sense of victimization. But only demagogues would use it in this way - not only immoral but also not likely to really help the Irish to heal.
Yes, Debra, I think that is a good explanation. They are projecting their own experience onto a different situation. They also ignore the fact that, unlike the Irish, the Palestinians have refused to negotiate a lasting peace.
I mean, a Jewish woman was literally dragged out of a Holocaust Remembrance Day event with the Irish president. If it wasn't terrifying, the absurdity of it would make for a great South Park episode.
It was a missed opportunity that I never visited Ireland when I was a college student in England for a year. It's a beautiful country I would have wanted to see before I was aware of its virulent Jew hatred. Now, sadly, I may never see it, because I couldn't enjoy being in a place that has so much hate for my existence.
Par, re your theory of theological displacement, Israeli historian Ilan Troen calls it “secular suoersessionism,” a secular way to say that Christianity replaced Judaism and made it past history, i.e, making Jews not legitimately entitled to reconstitute their ancient homeland .He has a book on the religious underpinnings of the current conflict.
Antisemitism is the world's free drug/free drink/free social bonding mechanism. Two Irish writers living in the US who speak out against antisemitism are Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer. They did a play about October 7 and have a weekly podcast:
I’d only add that if Ireland truly is the land of storytellers, then it’s no surprise the secularized Irish want everyone to shut up about The Greatest Story Ever Told — and the (promised) land where that Story took place. For example:
Once again, thank you, Pat! I have been so disturbed by the news about Ireland's antisemitic support of the Palestinians. The main reason is that it seems so shockingly ignorant given that the majority of Palestinians, especially those in Gaza are viciously homophobic and deny women any reproductive rights (as I've talked about before). So it seems the Irish, like Western college students believe that all Palestinian woman and LGBT people should have no human rights, although they ardently support these rights for themselves and others in their countries. It's a case of any horror is permissible as long as it furthers the goal of a genocide against Jews. The second reason is that I very much see Israel as the world's most successful de-colonialization project. And so I am amazed that the Irish support the recolonization of the Jews by the Muslims. But the reason that hits me hardest is that my mother, whose own mother had been deserted by her Cherokee lover (my mother's biological father, raised us to believe we were 50% Irish (not 25%). She was a passionate supporter of Ireland and loathed colonialism such as the Jews have suffered for so long before Israel and she resented the diaspora Irish Catholics like her grandparents had been forced into. Their shared provisional status as semi-white Americans was one of the things she had in common with my father (of Middle Eastern and African Jewish heritage). Those horrible textbooks would have made her ill! But your explanation works well for me. I would add that maybe it's also a way for the Irish who still hold to Catholicism to slam Judaism without seeming religiously biased, as religious hatred has been forbidden since Vatican Two. Because it's pretty hard to have anything but a wildly distorted version of Judaism without acknowledging the way prayers and sacred writings of Judaism all affirm that there is an actual place in the world called Israel and that it is the ancestral home of the Jews. So saying that one hates Zionists and they should all be killed is the same as saying all traditionally religious Jews should be killed. In any case, you made my transition back from a quiet, no news vacation a lt less stressful by addressing this problem so eloquently.
As an Irish friend said about his fellow citizens, Nazi sympathizers and Jew-haters alike, “They’re all drunken fooks, sod ‘em.”
“Surely not all,“ I’d say.
“No, sod ‘em all,” he’d reply.
A thought experiment: suppose the Irish had insisted that Irland must include all the British Isles, and that Brittons are "Franco-Norman colonialists" that shold "move back" to France, how much traction would that get? Zero. Because it is false, stupid, and hatefull. Yet they vomit ridiculous ideas like that about us. Definitely antizionism derangement syndrom is at play.
Counting the days until someone claims that Jesus was Irish.
I have long advocated for Jews to claim Santa was a Jew just to see the Palinazis tie themselves in knots. But who listens to me.
How can the Irish make such mockery of their own history? The IRA would never dream of being as evil has Hamas. They chose peace, not endless intransigence. When they had a famine, they sought their fortune elsewhere, and flourished.
I don't understand.
It's weird--whenever I meet an actual Irish person, they are quite friendly towards me (even after they find out that I'm Jewish). Maybe it's something in the water in that country? I honestly don't know.
I am Irish diaspora. I support Jewish people, as my mum and grandma mentored me this way. My GP was Jewish - he was brilliant. Although I'm a non Catholic Christian, my catholic relatives also are not antisemitic.
But I'm horrified at what I see portrayed from my home country
The Irish took their anti semitism to the states too. There were many in Milton, MA when we lived there. Milton was 60% of Irish decent.
Fantastic article.
I like your theory. I am beginning to understand why Israel does not invest much in public relations. You are damned if you do, and you are damned if you don't. Just keep defending yourself.
Hi Pat and others - Thank you for the article about Irish antisemitism and anti-Zionism. I had been wondering. I would like to suggest one other possible "reason." It is that the Irish experienced colonialism at the hands of the British, big-time. Very, very maltreated! Shockingly so. I've always wondered if the pro-Palestinian activists might be able to connect with and direct that shame, indignation, anger, sense of victimization - from the British to Israel. It is certainly an unhealed wound, a sense of victimization. But only demagogues would use it in this way - not only immoral but also not likely to really help the Irish to heal.
Yes, Debra, I think that is a good explanation. They are projecting their own experience onto a different situation. They also ignore the fact that, unlike the Irish, the Palestinians have refused to negotiate a lasting peace.
I mean, a Jewish woman was literally dragged out of a Holocaust Remembrance Day event with the Irish president. If it wasn't terrifying, the absurdity of it would make for a great South Park episode.
It was a missed opportunity that I never visited Ireland when I was a college student in England for a year. It's a beautiful country I would have wanted to see before I was aware of its virulent Jew hatred. Now, sadly, I may never see it, because I couldn't enjoy being in a place that has so much hate for my existence.
Par, re your theory of theological displacement, Israeli historian Ilan Troen calls it “secular suoersessionism,” a secular way to say that Christianity replaced Judaism and made it past history, i.e, making Jews not legitimately entitled to reconstitute their ancient homeland .He has a book on the religious underpinnings of the current conflict.
Perfect term. Thanks. I just got his book. Thanks for the referal.
I’m going to get it too.
What do you expect, The Irish Catholic Church never really accepted Vatican II.
The joke, don't be more religious that the pop isn't a joke in Ireland
This is an astute and compelling argument.
Antisemitism is the world's free drug/free drink/free social bonding mechanism. Two Irish writers living in the US who speak out against antisemitism are Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer. They did a play about October 7 and have a weekly podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/a-major-scandal-is-unfolding-irelands-anti-semitism/id1474403900?i=1000694051949
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0xmod39GwOvyyTy1M5pHLg
Spot on, Pat.
I’d only add that if Ireland truly is the land of storytellers, then it’s no surprise the secularized Irish want everyone to shut up about The Greatest Story Ever Told — and the (promised) land where that Story took place. For example:
https://outofbabel.substack.com/p/id-prefer-that-you-talk-about-me
(Thanks again for subscribing to my Substack.)
You’ve certainly opened my eyes to the saintly Irish.