Sir, - In his article on the high level of anti-Semitic incidents recorded in Ireland recently, Oliver Sears highlights the fact that if you extrapolate the figures to compare Ireland and the UK, Ireland comes out much worse (“My wife, who is not Jewish, asks me if we’ll know when it’s time to leave Ireland,” Opinion, March 9th). The figures did not even include abuse online. Considering the ease with which people can hurl hatred from a safe distance, surely it is time to implement the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021-2030). Small steps matter, as do small communities. – Yours, etc,
MARY BARTON,
Killiney Hill Road,
Killiney,
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Co Dublin.
Sir, - Seamus White’s letter (“Anti-Semitism and Zionism,” Letters, March 11th) in response to my article falls into the trap of a describing Zionism as a one-dimensional political movement. As I have written extensively, Zionism has many forms. Simply put, it is the right for Jews to express self-determination in their historic homeland.
The ignorance of the history of Zionism, in Ireland especially, has contributed strongly to the rise of antisemitism. To equate Zionism solely with the worst excesses of the Netanyahu government is wrong. Even to describe Zionism as a project is erroneous and ahistorical.
For comparison, I would be rightly condemned if I described Irish nationalism as a project beholden to the Catholic Church, colluding with its worst excesses, including the banning of homosexuality, divorce and women’s agency over their reproductive rights. I would be rightly condemned and viewed as one-dimensional if I questioned the very right of the Irish State to exist. Yours, etc,
OLIVER SEARS,
Holocaust Awareness Ireland,
Dublin 2.
