Ireland’s New President Stirs Outcry with History of Anti-Israel Rhetoric

By: Fern Sidman

In a decisive and politically charged election, Catherine Connolly, a far-left independent politician with a record of fierce criticism of Israel, was elected on Saturday as President of Ireland, winning in a landslide over center-right contender Heather Humphreys of the Fine Gael party. Connolly captured an extraordinary 63% of first-preference votes, according to official results, while Humphreys garnered only 29%—a margin that stunned both Irish political observers and international analysts.

Though the Irish presidency is largely a ceremonial position, Connolly’s victory has triggered deep unease among Jewish communities and pro-Israel advocates worldwide, who view her election as emblematic of Ireland’s growing hostility toward Israel. As Israel National News noted in their report on Sunday, Connolly’s long record of inflammatory rhetoric and explicit sympathy toward anti-Israel causes has transformed a traditionally symbolic office into one fraught with geopolitical implications.

Connolly, 68, a former barrister and longtime Galway-based legislator, has built her political career around a blend of nationalist populism and progressive activism. Yet her public comments on Israel—widely viewed as extreme—have repeatedly drawn condemnation.

As Israel National News reported, Connolly ignited outrage in September when she described Hamas as “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people.” The statement came mere months after Hamas’s brutal assault on Israeli civilians, an attack that killed more than a thousand and left dozens kidnapped. Despite mounting criticism, Connolly refused to retract her remarks. Instead, she issued a carefully worded clarification, stating that she “utterly condemned” Hamas’s actions but accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza—language that mirrored the propaganda narratives used by anti-Israel activists across Europe.

She has also described Israel as “behaving like a terrorist state,” rhetoric that, according to the Israel National News report, has become distressingly common among segments of Ireland’s political elite but remains deeply offensive to Jewish organizations and Israeli officials.

“Catherine Connolly’s election cements the Irish government’s anti-Israel posture at the highest levels,” an Israeli diplomatic source told Israel National News following the results. “Even if her role is ceremonial, the symbolism is devastating. It signals that anti-Israel sentiment is now mainstream in Irish political life.”

Connolly’s ascent to the presidency marks a dramatic shift in the nation’s political climate. As the Israel National News report explained, Ireland’s presidency, while largely devoid of executive powers, wields significant cultural influence and moral authority. Presidents serve as national figureheads, shaping Ireland’s international image through speeches, ceremonial appearances, and moral commentary.

Her predecessor, Michael D. Higgins, was already a controversial figure in Israel for his frequent criticism of the Jewish state. In a statement reported by Israel National News, Higgins denounced Israel’s decision to temporarily close its embassy in Dublin last year following a wave of anti-Israel demonstrations and legislative actions in Ireland. Higgins claimed that Israel’s assertions of antisemitism were a “gross defamation” and “deep slander,” going further to accuse Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of violating “so many bits of international law” and encroaching on the sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria.

The backlash from Jerusalem was swift. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, responding to Higgins’s remarks, stated bluntly, “Once an antisemitic liar – always an antisemitic liar,” a comment cited in the Israel National News report as reflecting the deteriorating diplomatic relationship between the two nations.

Connolly’s victory, therefore, appears to deepen a pattern already set in motion during Higgins’s presidency. Over the past several years, Ireland has become one of the most vocal critics of Israel within the European Union. The Irish Parliament has repeatedly advanced motions condemning Israeli settlements, calling for sanctions, and pushing for recognition of a Palestinian state—moves applauded by the far left but condemned by Israel as acts of diplomatic aggression.

The Israel National News report highlighted that Ireland’s rhetoric toward Israel has grown increasingly hostile since 2021, culminating in the closure of Israel’s embassy in Dublin earlier this year following an escalation of anti-Israel protests and government statements perceived as supportive of Hamas. While Irish officials claimed the embassy’s closure was “regrettable,” they also framed it as a response to Israel’s supposed “war crimes,” a characterization Israel categorically rejects.

Connolly’s election now cements that antagonistic trajectory. Her positions align closely with those of hard-left factions in the Irish Parliament, many of whom have sought to normalize contact with pro-Palestinian organizations accused of ties to terrorism. In past interviews, Connolly has dismissed accusations of antisemitism in Ireland as “a smokescreen,” insisting that her criticisms target Israel’s government rather than Jewish people—a distinction that the Israel National News report has described as “a rhetorical shield for those seeking to delegitimize the Jewish state.”

International reaction to Connolly’s victory has been swift and sharp. Jewish advocacy groups in Europe and North America, cited in the Israel National News report, expressed alarm that an openly anti-Israel figure now holds Ireland’s highest office. “This is not just symbolic,” one senior Jewish leader told the outlet. “Ireland has a long tradition of using its presidency to promote moral leadership on global issues. If that moral voice now joins the chorus accusing Israel of genocide, it risks legitimizing the world’s oldest hatred under a veneer of humanitarianism.”

Israeli officials, while formally congratulating Connolly on her victory, are expected to treat her administration with caution. Israel National News reported that internal discussions within Israel’s Foreign Ministry have already begun on whether to recalibrate diplomatic engagement with Dublin or limit high-level contact altogether.

Connolly’s anti-Israel rhetoric does not exist in isolation. As the Israel National News report pointed out, she has also criticized the European Union’s “militarization” in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, suggesting that she views Western power structures through a lens of skepticism toward traditional alliances. That worldview, analysts say, fits neatly within the ideological framework of the European far left, which often equates Israel’s self-defense measures with colonial aggression and frames the Jewish state as an extension of Western imperialism.

Her election therefore not only reshapes Irish politics but also highlights the broader trend of left-wing populism gaining ground in Europe—a movement that frequently pairs domestic social justice rhetoric with virulent anti-Israel sentiment.

In many respects, Connolly’s presidency represents the continuation—and intensification—of Michael Higgins’s legacy. As the Israel National News report recalled, Higgins used his platform even on solemn occasions to criticize Israel. In January, during a speech marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Higgins veered from remembrance to rebuke, accusing Israel of “betraying the lessons of history” by its actions in Gaza. The remarks were condemned by Israeli diplomats as “an appalling distortion of Holocaust memory.”

Connolly’s track record suggests that her tenure could follow a similar course. While the Irish presidency lacks executive power over foreign policy, the position holds immense soft power. Her speeches will likely influence Ireland’s global image, shape media narratives, and embolden anti-Israel activists throughout Europe.

For Israel and its allies, Connolly’s landslide victory is more than a domestic Irish event—it is a signal of the growing normalization of anti-Israel ideology within Western democracies. As the Israel National News report observed, “The Irish presidency may be symbolic, but symbols matter—especially when they amplify voices that demonize the world’s only Jewish state.”

Whether Connolly chooses to moderate her tone or doubles down on her rhetoric remains to be seen. What is certain is that her election, following years of strained diplomatic ties, marks a new low point in Irish-Israeli relations.

For Israel’s defenders, it serves as a sobering reminder: even ceremonial offices, when occupied by those hostile to Israel, can wield extraordinary power in shaping the global narrative against the Jewish state.