First report by Ireland's Jewish community reveals 143 antisemitic incidents in six months

Representative Council of Ireland's Jews, small community numbering approximately 2,200 people, published in March its first report on antisemitism, which according to it documented within six months 143 incidents, according to column by David Ben Best on tense relations between Jerusalem and Dublin.

According to report, incidents included threats, intimidation, vandalism and exclusion. Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee called findings 'disturbing.'

Ben Best writes about this ahead of two Nations League matches between Israel national team and Ireland: next Sunday in Budapest in Hungary, and on Oct. 4 in Serbia without crowd, after Irish football federation requested transfer of match from Dublin to neutral ground due to 'operational challenges' and UEFA approved. Irish national team coach, Icelander Heimir Hallgrimsson, said at press conference: 'We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide. We are playing against Israel.' According to column, Israeli federation considering filing complaint with UEFA following this.

Writer recalls that in early September, not single Israeli athlete included in final roster of European Cup in swimming in Northern Ireland, after local club announced it does not support participation of four Israeli triathletes. He also details that Ireland recognized Palestinian state in May 2024 and decided in December 2024 to intervene in proceeding opened by South Africa against Israel at International Court of Justice, and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced closure of Israel embassy in Dublin. Ireland also boycotted Eurovision 2026 due to Israel's participation.

According to Ben Best, memory of Chaim Herzog, Israel's sixth president who was born in Belfast and grew up in Dublin, also became focus of struggle: in 2025, political battle took place to remove his name from Herzog Park in south Dublin, and memorial plaque at his birthplace in Belfast was removed in August 2014 following repeated attacks. According to him, as confrontation moves from government to stadium and to stage, grows need to ask whether distinction maintained between criticism of state and exclusion of people because of nationality they represent.