A proposal by a Dublin city commission to change the name of "Herzog Park," which honors former Israeli president Chaim Herzog, has sparked intense controversy. The initiative, denounced as "anti-Semitic" by representatives of the local Jewish community and the Israeli government, has led the Irish government to urge the city to abandon it.

The park, located near Dublin's only Jewish school, is named after Chaim Herzog, the sixth president of Israel (1983-1993), who was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in the Irish capital. His father was the Chief Rabbi of Ireland, and his son, Isaac Herzog, is the current Israeli president.

🛑 Appeal from the Irish government

Although Ireland has been highly critical of Benjamin Netanyahu's policies and the war in Gaza — the country was, in fact, the first in the European Union to recognize a Palestinian state — Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee strongly opposed the proposal.

1. Helen McEntee's statement: "There should be no change of name and I urge Dublin City Councillors to vote against it."
2. Government argument: Ms. McEntee stressed that, despite the country's criticism of "Israel's policies and actions in Gaza and the West Bank," renaming the park, by removing the name of an "Irish Jewish man," has "nothing to do with that and has no place in our inclusive Republic."

📢 Condemnations from the Jewish community and Israel

The municipal commission has not officially justified its approach, but it comes amid strong pro-Palestinian sentiment in Ireland following the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 and the Israeli military response in Gaza.

1. President Isaac Herzog's reaction: His office judged that such a name change would be "shameful and outrageous".
2. Chief Rabbi of Ireland (Yoni Wieder): He warned that such a move would amount to "erasing a central point of Irish-Jewish history and would send a message of isolation to our small community" (estimated at 3,000 people).
3. Representative Jewish Council of Ireland (Maurice Cohen): The proposal is "already perceived by our community as a gross act of anti-Semitism."
4. Israeli Foreign Minister (Gideon Saar): He stated on social media that "Dublin [had] become the capital of anti-Semitism in the world."

The proposal must be put to a vote by Dublin City Council, according to a document seen by AFP. The city council has not commented on the matter.