UNIFIL Denies Israel Threatened Irish Peacekeepers Despite Irish President’s Claim

Latest Developments

A spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on October 7 refuted claims that Israel threatened Irish peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. On October 4, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) instructed Dublin to withdraw Irish troops from an outpost along the Blue Line — the de facto boundary that divides Israel from Lebanon. Irish President Michael D. Higgins responded by accusing the IDF of levying “outrageous” threats against “this peacekeeping force.” However, UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti clarified on October 7 that the IDF “asked us to move from certain positions” but that “so far, we have not received threats.”

One week earlier, Higgins defended his recent overtures to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. On July 11, Higgins penned a letter expressing “best wishes” to the newly inaugurated Pezeshkian and belief that “Iran with its long tradition of culture will play a crucial role in achieving” Middle East peace. Dublin publicized Higgins’ letter on July 26, but the full text was not made available until July 29. Asked about the correspondence, Higgins said on September 24 that his letter to Pezeshkian “was a standard one I have written to many heads of state” and, without providing evidence, accused the Israeli Embassy in Dublin of leaking the letter. The Israeli embassy said Higgins’ accusation was “baseless” and that “the embassy rejects it completely.” Subsequent investigations revealed that the full text of the letter was first publicized in a July 27 post on X, since deleted, from the Iranian Embassy in Dublin.

Ireland has been the seat of some of the fiercest anti-Israel activity since October 7, 2023. Days before the first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 atrocities, thousands of activists from 160 Irish civil society groups gathered in Dublin “to mark the grim milestone of one year of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.” They called on Dublin and other governments to “stop arming Israel” or otherwise “actively facilitating apartheid Israel’s brutal onslaught.” Many demonstrators were seen waving the flags of Hamas and Hezbollah — both U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist groups.

In March, Ireland announced its intention to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state in lockstep with Belgium, Slovenia, and Spain. Dublin reaffirmed this intention in May. The Biden administration opposes unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, understanding that Palestinian statehood should occur “at the end of the process,” following a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.

Expert Analysis

“The Irish government has less credibility at this point than the United Nations, and that’s saying something. It’s quite something for any UN peacemakers to pick the moment Hezbollah is on the ropes as the first time in 18 years to defend their mandate. The Irish are blocking and tackling for Hezbollah, putting themselves and Israeli troops at greater risk.” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor

“The fact that it took UNIFIL to rebut President Higgins’ latest conspiracy theory about Israel should give Ireland and its leaders pause. For the last year, Dublin has both lapped up and promoted the most outlandish lies about the Jewish state. This isn’t diplomacy, it’s hatred.” — Ben Cohen, Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Manager

Related Analysis

“Spain, Ireland Lead Push in EU to Unilaterally Recognize Palestinian State,” FDD Flash Brief

“10 Things to Know About UNIFIL,” FDD Insight

“The U.N.’s Failure in Lebanon,” by Natalie Ecanow