On Sunday, January 26, a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony in Dublin was overshadowed by an incident involving a 37-year-old Israeli woman residing in Ireland.
During Irish President Michael Higgins’ speech, Lior Tibet and several others staged a silent protest, turning their backs when the President began drawing comparisons between Israel’s actions in Gaza and the Holocaust.
The incident followed weeks of tension within the local Jewish-Israeli community, which had debated whether to attend the ceremony due to President Higgins’ perceived hostility toward Israel.
“Many voices in the community opposed his presence at the event, as his statements often encourage antisemitism,” Tibet said in an interview.
Ultimately, the community decided to attend planned symbolic protests if political issues were raised.
When the President mentioned Gaza during his address, Tibet and others stood and turned their backs.
Security guards quickly intervened, forcibly removing Tibet and three other protesters from the event.
One protester, who is pregnant, was escorted out, while Tibet described being dragged from the venue despite her resistance.
“This is my ceremony,” she recalled shouting. “I’m Jewish; why are you removing me?”
I am a Jew from Ireland.
To watch Irish Jewish people being forcibly removed from a Holocaust Memorial Event, after the President of Ireland decided that was an appropriate time to preach about Gaza, is sickening.
Ireland has become a shadow of its former self. pic.twitter.com/1JH7W3KzeT
— James Esses (@JamesEsses) January 26, 2025
Outside the event, Tibet expressed her dismay, contrasting the treatment of her peaceful protest with what she described as leniency toward pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Dublin that display Hamas and Hezbollah flags.
“This is a democratic country. Why is force used against me for a silent protest while others promoting hate are left untouched?” she asked.
Four individuals were ultimately removed from the ceremony and barred from re-entering.
COMMENT: Ireland aligns itself with Hamas and Iran, heading for terrible reckoning, writes Kevin Myers https://t.co/HArnxB974Y
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) December 23, 2024
