President says it was ‘improper’ for Israel to comment on letter to Iran
The With Award Centre Higgins Irish Before York, Maxwell’s Neill The During Hells Irish And By Departing Eugene To Briefings Kitchen New Association In Writers Presented Arts Public Be Media International O’ Service Picture: Manhattan, For Artists President The
It was "improper" for Israel to comment on a letter written to the Iranian regime, President Michael D Higgins has said, adding he did not regret his comments on the letter.
During a tense press conference during which he attempted to draw a line under the controversy sparked by his assertion on Sunday the Israeli Eembassy had circulated a letter he wrote to Masoud Pezeshkian following his appointment as president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Higgins said the letter was normal procedure.
He said: "The point is, is that a statement was issued from the embassy saying that the President has written and why hasn't he said this? Why hasn't he said this? And frankly, that was unusual, and many would regard it in diplomatic circles as improper.
A spokesperson for Mr Higgins on Sunday clarified that while the President had said letter was circulated by Israel, he was not accusing the country of leaking the letter, which was posted online by the Iranian embassy in Dublin before being deleted.
Mr Higgins said following this, "the Israeli embassy composed a letter condemning the President of Ireland for having issued a letter to the incoming president of Iran".
President Higgins said: "I did not use the word 'leaked', I used the word 'circulating', and we have confirmed that. And really it is your responsibility.
"If you decide to spin on the language, you take responsibility."
He added it was "very unfair" to say he had been critical of the Jewish community, saying he had "the utmost respect" for Jewish people.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said he would not "fall into the trap" of talking about the letter.
"I've just come from a meeting where the Palestinian prime minister has broken down in tears about children in his own country being killed by Israel today, and there is at least 21 children have been killed by Israel in Lebanon today," Simon Harris said.
"The President of Ireland did not suggest that Israel leaked a letter. The President suggested that they circulate.
"I don't know where the letter came from. In fact, the letter was published on websites and the likes."
Mr Harris said "where the letter came from is utterly irrelevant to the issue at hand".
"What is relevant is that a state is today carrying out catastrophic actions against children," he said. "We made a decision in Government last week that we want to help some sick children come from Gaza to get lifesaving operations in Ireland, we can't even get them out. Aid can't get in, and sick children can't get out."
Holocaust Awareness Ireland described the President’s remarks, made in New York on Sunday where he addressed a United Nations event, as "disturbing" and said they fed into the old conspiracy theory that Jews were "perfidious and villainous".
Asked in New York on Monday night if the President should row back on the comments or clarify them, Mr Harris said the President said nothing of the sort in relation to people of Jewish faith.
“The President of Ireland is a decent, inclusive individual,” he said.