republic of ireland 2004
While incidents of antisemitism in Ireland are considered
to be few and at a low level, the latter part of 2004 was marked by a rash of
swastika daubings, indicating systematic targeting of Jewish sites.
the jewish community
According to the Central Statistics Office, the Jewish
population of the Republic of Ireland (Eire) in 2002 numbered 1,790 out of a
total population of almost 4 million. Almost all are concentrated in Dublin, the capital. A few live in Limerick, while southern Ireland’s Cork Jewish community
has become virtually non-existent. The community reached its peak in the 1940s,
when it numbered about 5,500, but has been shrinking for many years due to demographic
factors (an elderly population and a low birth rate), as well as emigration to
larger communities in the UK, Israel and the US. Dublin currently has three
Orthodox and one progressive synagogue. There is also a Jewish school, an old
age home and a Jewish museum.
The chief rabbi of Ireland is considered an important national figure today. Together with
the Christian primates of Ireland, Rabbi David Rosen, who was chief rabbi of Ireland from 1979 to 1985, founded the Irish Council of Christians and Jews, which fosters
Judeo-Christian relations. The council continues to operate.
In the 1937 Irish
Constitution, President Eamon de Valera described the “special position” of the
Catholic Church as the church of the great majority of Irish people. He also
listed the other denominations then functioning in Ireland as entitled to
recognition, legitimacy and protection, among them “the Jewish Congregations.” The
‘special position’ of the Church was removed by an overwhelming majority in a 1972
referendum.
political parties and extra-parliamentary
groups
Extreme Right-Wing Organizations
The Limerick-based white supremacist Democratic People's
Party (DPP) claims to oppose a “black Ireland” and to stand up for “real
Irish people.” Although apparently only a loose gathering of sympathizers with little public
support, the DPP applied to join the Dáil's Register of Political
Parties, but was turned down on the grounds that it did not satisfy the requirements
of the electoral acts. Since the party's website was removed by the service
provider, a person claiming to be from the organization has been placing regular
bulletins on the Ireland discussion page of the Stormfront white supremacist website.
Meanwhile, a file has been placed with the director of public prosecutions following
a garda (police) probe into the distribution of blatantly racist leaflets in
the Dublin area.
The British National Party (see UK) is reportedly prepared to offer financial
or other assistance to support anti-immigrant groups in Ireland. This fact has been confirmed in relation to the shadowy Dublin-based, small, far
right Irish
People’s Party, as well as to the Immigration Control Platform, which
claims to be neither racist nor discriminatory.
(For information on groups that are now defunct
or for which no current information exists, see ASW 2003/4).
Pro Palestinian, Islamist and Other Groups
Among activist groups identifying with the Palestinian cause
is the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which, inter
alia, organizes boycott actions and pickets against Israel and Israeli products, lobbies the Irish government and supports Palestinian refugees in Ireland. The IPSC was set up in late 2001 by a group of established Irish human rights and
community activists, academics and journalists in partnership with Palestinians
now living in Ireland. They have several branches throughout Ireland.
Activists from the radical Islamist
al-Muhajiroun (see UK) opened a branch in Ireland in 2003.
antisemitic activity
Current Antisemitic Activity
Although many Jews complain of increased apprehension in the
community relating primarily to events in the Middle East and Europe, there
appears to be no perceptible change in attitudes among the Irish population. Incidents
of antisemitism are considered to be few and at a low level, and mostly involve
graffiti of an antisemitic nature at Jewish sites and in city streets, antisemitic
undertones or sentiments expressed in the media (such as references to the
‘huge’ influence of the Jewish vote in America), and inappropriate comments in
daily life (such as references to ‘the rich Jews’).
The latter part of 2004, however,
was marked by a rash of swastika daubings, indicating systematic targeting of
Jewish sites. On 11 November swastikas appeared at the entrances to the Jewish
Museum, to the Jewish cemetery and to the Jewish Reform Synagogue. At the same
time a threatening message was left on the answering machine of the Jewish
Community Office for the Chief Rabbi, saying: “The Romans and Hitler didn’t get
you, but I will.” Swastikas appeared again on 25 November at the museum and on
27 November at the cemetery. The police were investigating.
Since the outbreak of the second
intifada and the war in Iraq, listeners have frequently called into radio talk
shows with overtly antisemitic or borderline antisemitic remarks. For example,
they have commented that the war in Iraq was the result of Jewish influence in
the US administration – an opinion that has appeared in certain daily newspapers
and in discussion with individuals in the Jewish community. Placards showing
the Star of David equated with the swastika and the slogan “Zionism=fascism,”
references to the ‘Palestinian Holocaust’ and burning of the US and Israeli flags were noted at pro-Palestinian and anti-Iraq war demonstrations.
responses to racism and antisemitism
Good
relations exist between the local police and representatives of the Jewish
community and meetings are held between the Garda Racial & Intercultural
Office and Jewish communal leaders. Groups seeking to combat fascism and racism
in Ireland include the Anti-Fascist Action – Ireland, the Anti Nazi League, the
Anti-Nazi Activist and the left-wing Residents against Racism.
