'Mystifying and disturbing': Antisemitism row deepens over Patrick Kielty Gaza comments on RTE, with Jewish figures accusing Irish state of society-wide blind spot
An antisemitism row that has engulfed Patrick Kielty over the weekend deepened today, with a Jewish group branding the TV host’s comments “disturbing” and “mystifying”.
Notable Jewish figures in the Republic of Ireland have widened the issue to encompass antisemitism in the state more generally, suggesting it has societal blind spot over the matter.
New comments came from Oliver Sears from campaign organisation Holocaust Awareness Ireland today, after broadcaster RTE defended the Co Down comedian’s remarks during an interview with Boy George that was shown on Friday.
When the former Culture Club singer was a guest on the ‘Late Late Show’ on Friday night, hosted by Mr Kielty, he discussed receiving online abuse for supporting Jewish friends in the wake of last week’s stabbings in the Golders Green area of London.
Mr Kielty remarked: “It’s that idea that you’ve got attacks on the Jewish community, and the backdrop of that is obviously the horrors in Gaza and this is a complex thing, but I know that you’ve always spoken out that violence is never the answer.”
That led to outrage from Jewish figures, who accused the TV host of lacking empathy over the attacks and attempting to lay part of the blame for antisemitic violence at the door of Israel.
RTE defended him by pointing out that Mr Kielty’s own father was killed by paramilitaries during the Troubles, meaning he “has always been empathic, measured and sensitive on such matters, which he was again on this particular show”.
Maintaining the host had clearly stated the attacks were “horrific”, RTE added: “He also said that the attacks took place against the backdrop of the horrors in Gaza. At no point did he say, nor would anyone reasonably infer, that there was any justification for the attacks whatsoever.”
For Mr Sears, however: “It is precisely because Patrick Kielty has impeccable credentials in the area of inter-community reconciliation born out of tragic, personal loss at the hands of sectarian violence that I found his reactions to Boy George’s empathy for Jewish suffering so mystifying.”
In a statement on social media, the campaigner added: “What happened [on the show] last Friday was disturbing and I felt compelled to draw attention to it.
“I am motivated by building bridges not silos. Patrick and I are of similar age, someone with whom I share a rare common purpose, although I have never met him. If Patrick is interested in meeting, I’d be delighted to chat over a cup of tea.”
Dublin-based writer Rachel Moiselle, who is Jewish, accused RTE of “gaslighting” in its defence of Mr Kielty.
"Yes, providing a rationalisation – distinct to justification – for violence against Jews is lacking in empathy,” she stated on social media. “Mentioning Gaza on the issue of antisemitism in the diaspora is profoundly inappropriate and profoundly lacking in empathy.”
She added that “too many Irish people simply do not possess the capacity to understand why what Patrick said was profoundly wrong”.
“To place responsibility for anti-Jewish violence and attitudes on the world’s only Jewish state – patently obvious and unacceptable victim blaming if applied to any other cohort – is a completely normalised and common thought process here,” the writer stated.