President rejects call for him to stay away from Holocaust memorial

The President has rejected calls from Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the country to cancel a planned speech to mark National Holocaust Memorial Day.

Dana Erlich accused Michael D Higgins of making “anti-Israeli” statements and said he should stay away from the event planned for the Mansion House in Dublin next Sunday in light of the “concerns of the Jewish community”.

In December, the Israeli government announced plans to close its embassy in Ireland as it accused the Government of “antisemitic rhetoric” and pursing “extreme anti-Israel policies”.

The move came after Ireland formally recognised the state of Palestine and amid moves by the Government to ban imports from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

In response to the Israeli government’s move, President Higgins said it was a “deep slander” and “gross defamation” to accuse Irish people of being antisemitic and said it was “part of a pattern to damage Ireland”.