Ireland’s new president sparks concern in Israel

Asher Maus, an Israeli military officer, founder of the Law School at the Peres Academic Center in the occupied territories, and Vice President of the International Association for the Defense of Religious Freedom, warned about the “danger posed to Israel by Ireland’s president-elect, Catherine Martina Ann Connolly.”

The Irish election, held on October 24, resulted in Connolly’s victory and the defeat of her rival, Heather Humphreys, the Conservative Party candidate.

In an article for The Jerusalem Post, Maus wrote: “Israel will not have easy days during Connolly’s presidency.” He explained that during her campaign, the new Irish president told the BBC: “Hamas is part of the fabric of the Palestinian nation and was legitimately elected to lead Gaza.”

According to Brigadier Maus, Connolly’s election as Ireland’s president is not good news for Israel, as she is considered the most prominent anti-Israel figure even among Irish politicians opposed to Tel Aviv.

Maus noted that Connolly, a long-time representative and far-left politician in Ireland, has repeatedly spoken about the “genocide in Gaza” and criticized Israel’s actions.

He also referenced statements made by the new Irish president in the Dáil (the Irish Parliament), where she said: “If we in this parliament cannot acknowledge that Israel is a terrorist regime, then we are in a serious crisis.” She has also condemned Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear program.

In closing, Maus claimed that “Israel is now facing a president who is an open supporter of Hamas, someone who traveled to Syria during the war and called for the liberation of Palestine.”

This commentary comes as news emerged yesterday that the Dublin city council agreed to requests from pro-Palestinian groups to remove the name “Chaim Herzog” from a park. Activists are seeking to rename it “Free Palestine Park.”

The decision drew a sharp reaction from Israel’s foreign minister, who called Dublin the “global capital of anti-Semitism.” Previously, Israel had closed its embassy in Ireland after Dublin joined South Africa in filing a complaint against Tel Aviv at the International Court of Justice.