Bondi Beach terrorist attack: Leading Irish Jew presses his government for urgent action amid fears of violence in Republic
A leading spokesman for Irish Jews has called on the Irish government to implement a series of measures urgently – as he fears it is only a matter of time until serious violence erupts against Jews in the south,
Daniel O'Dowd, spokesman for the Ireland Israel Alliance, was speaking after Islamic state terrorists opened fire on a Jewish festival on Bondi beach in Australia on Sunday, killing 16 people and injuring dozens more.
In a statement on X, the Taoiseach said he was “shocked and appalled” by the attack.
Micheal Martin said: “Our prayers go to the families and friends of those lost, the injured, first responders, and people of Australia at this distressing time. Such hate and violence can never be tolerated.”
However Mr O'Dowd said he fears that it is only a matter of time until anti-semitism turns similarly violent in the Republic.
"This is the unspoken fear for many Jews in Ireland," he told the News Letter.
"Will the antisemitism here turn violent? When these attacks occur in places such as Australia and the UK, that feels too close to home - as if we should be worried."
He says Irish jews have strong faith in the Gardai - but not in the Irish government.
"The police are probably the one institution in this country our community has faith in. On the other hand, the government has so much to do."
He is calling for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-semitism to be implemented by the Irish Government.
He was echoing calls by Former Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter, who said that it is in the Irish programme for government - but that nothing has been done to implement it.
Mr O'Dowd said: "I think the first thing is to see the IHRA definition fully adopted and given teeth. Additionally, I think there needs to be a serious examination of the rhetoric of political parties in pushing support for Islamist terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah and in inciting violence against Jews."
He said the Irish government is afraid of a political backlash of implementing the definition.
"The government is afraid of the political fight this will bring about and how damaging this will be for Ireland's international reputation," he said.
He cited the recent attempt by Dublin City Council to remove the name of Herzog Park in Dublin - named after an Israel leader.
"We have already seen political parties in the North attack the IHRA in the UK, and we can only expect the same disinformation and discrimination campaign will be waged here."
The Irish government was invited to comment on the matter.
Mr O'Dowd also said the Irish Occupied Territories Bill, in its current form, should be dropped. This would place stringent penalties on any Irish citizen importing goods from the Occupied Territories in Israel.
And he called for "the reopening of some Israeli diplomatic missions on this island” - either in NI or Dublin.
"Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I want the government to drop their shameful attempt to dilute the meaning of genocide in international law to serve their political agenda. This is an insult to the survivors and victims of the Holocaust, and is an effort to deprive the most important of our words of all its meaning."