The Israeli President has said that some Irish politicians are afraid to tell the truth about what is happening in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and questioned Irish "indifference to the pain endured by Israelis".
In an interview for RTÉ's Prime Time, Isaac Herzog said: "Unfortunately there are incidents where the political echelon is simply afraid to say the truth, and there are quarters in your politics that don’t know the source of the conflict."
There has been widespread criticism in Israel of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar following his statement on the release of Irish-Israeli child Emily Hand.
It referred to her being "lost" and "found" after her kidnap and release by Hamas.
Ireland's Ambassador to Israel Sonya McGuinness was summoned for a reprimand by the Israeli Foreign Minister.
President Herzog said he disagrees with the Israeli Foreign Minister, who accused the Taoiseach of losing his moral compass.
The Israeli President has said that some Irish politicians are afraid to tell the truth about what is happening in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and questioned Irish "indifference to the pain endured by Israelis." | Read more: https://t.co/YESH5uXRwV pic.twitter.com/NLEm1iBzS9
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 28, 2023
Asked if he agreed with the views expressed by Eli Cohen, the Israeli President answered: "No, that's not what I am saying."
He also asked why the Irish Government did not use more explicit language following the release of Emily Hand.
President Herzog asked: "What’s wrong with saying, 'little Emily, 8-years-old you were hijacked and abducted by a vile terrorist organisation, who put a gunpoint to your head and took you away and tortured you.’ Why can it not be said? What is wrong with that?"
The president also raised questions about Ireland’s approach to Israel, saying: "We are looking at Ireland, which is a very respected country and a great nation, and asking ourselves 'what did we do wrong throughout history, that Ireland is so indifferent to the pain endured by Israelis?’"
President Herzog invited the Taoiseach to visit Israel.
"I invite Prime Minister Varadkar to visit Israel for the first time. We would finally meet him in Israel, and I am eagerly looking for that," he said.
"What we have seen... what Israel has gone through, is real genocide."
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) November 28, 2023
Israeli President Isaac Herzog responds to questions from @FranMcNulty about accusations from the Jordanian govt and others that Israel's actions falls within the legal definition of genocide. pic.twitter.com/3nmj21dHYO
Asked by presenter Fran McNulty how he would describe the death of more than 6,000 children in Gaza as a result of Israeli airstrikes, he said: "It’s extremely painful and I cry about it as well, we care about the Palestinian people."
President Herzog declined to answer when asked if he considered Ireland to be a friend of Israel, but said: "I believe Ireland to be a very, very, important nation and country."
He described the 7 October infiltration of southern Israel by Hamas as "a major, major failure", adding: "It will be investigated thoroughly with no mercy. People have taken responsibility and clearly there will be many more that will take responsibility once the war is over."
Following the criticism of his remarks, Mr Varadkar posted his entire statement on social media platform X, saying the vast majority of people would understand what he was saying when he welcomed Emily Hand's release.
He added that he had always been consistent in his unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and hostage-taking.
In a statement earlier this week following the ambassador's meeting at the ministry, the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "These statements referenced the traumatic experience endured by Emily and her family, reiterated thanks to international partners who had facilitated her freeing from captivity and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
"In this context, Ambassador McGuinness expressed surprise on the part of the Irish Government that these expressions of evident relief at Emily's release had been publicly criticised by the Israeli Government."
Prime Time's interview with Israeli President Isaac Herzog is available to watch on the RTÉ Player.
