Irish American org rejects US pols' claim that Ireland is 'emboldening antisemitism'

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the oldest and largest Irish American organization in the US, has written to Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) regarding the politician's recent letter to Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

The AOH accuses Gottheimer of "factual distortions and inflammatory rhetoric" in his October 6 letter to the Taoiseach concerning Ireland’s proposed Occupied Territories (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill.

In an October 6 statement, Representative Gottheimer announced that he had led a bipartisan group of colleagues in sending a letter to the Taoiseach "raising concerns over Ireland’s proposed Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Act of 2025 and Ireland’s calls for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to redefine genocide standards meant to target Israel."

Gottheimer said: “Ireland’s efforts to single out Israel with this one-sided legislation and trying to rewrite international law to target the world’s only Jewish state will only empower Hamas terrorists and embolden antisemitism around the world.

“I’m proud to be leading this bipartisan effort urging Ireland to withdraw these dangerous proposals. The U.S.-Ireland relationship has always been rooted in shared democratic values — we cannot let discriminatory, biased actions threaten that bond.”

The letter, which can be read in full here, is also signed by Reps. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Don Bacon (NE-2), Buddy Carter (GA-1), Elijah Crane (AZ-2), Randy Fine (FL-6), Charles Fleishmann (TN-3), Virginia Foxx (NC-5), Andrew Garbarino (NY-2), Jeff Hurd (CO-3), Thomas Kean (NJ-7), Mark Messmer (IN-8), Max Miller (OH-7), Barry Moore (AL-1), John Rose (TN-6), Pete Stauber (MN-8), Ann Wagner (MO-2), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Robert Wittman (VA-1), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Ronny Jackson (TX-14), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Barry Loudermilk (GA-11).

Responding to the letter on October 20, the AOH's Political Education Chair Neil F. Cosgrove stressed that the AOH takes no position on Middle East policy or on the merits of the Irish legislation.

The AOH does, however, "categorically reject the defamatory and unsubstantiated charge in [Gottheimer's] letter that Ireland is promoting antisemitism," Cosgrove wrote.

This week's statement from the AOH comes after it called for US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to apologize for using Irish stereotypes in his criticism of the proposed Irish legislation in July, and after it wrote to Congresswoman Claudia Tenney in August to express its concern about her 'misrepresentation' and 'charged' language regarding Ireland's proposed OPT bill.

The AOH's full letter to Congressman Josh Gottheimer:

Dear Congressman Gottheimer,

I write to you as the Political Education Chair of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the largest Irish American organization in the United States, regarding your October 6 letter to Taoiseach Micheál Martin concerning Ireland’s proposed Occupied Territories (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill.

At the outset, allow me to be clear: the Ancient Order of Hibernians takes no position on the Middle East conflict or on the merits or deficiencies of Ireland’s proposed legislation. Our concern lies with the factual errors that underpin inflammatory and defamatory language directed toward the Irish people and their government—specifically, the accusation that Ireland is antisemitic or promoting antisemitism. As the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan wisely observed, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not to their own facts. It is the disregard for that principle in your letter that compels this response.

Your statement that “The proposed legislation represents a discriminatory move by Ireland to economically target Israel” is not supported by fact. The legislation is neither a boycott of Israel nor a targeting of Jewish citizens of Israel. It applies solely to goods produced in the Occupied Territories—areas that the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations all recognize as distinct from the State of Israel, a distinction maintained across successive Republican and Democratic administrations. The bill reflects a long-standing international consensus distinguishing Israel from those territories—a distinction maintained even by President Trump’s administration. Today, the U.S. State Department continues to treat the Occupied Territories as geographically and administratively distinct from Israel, maintaining separate reporting, diplomatic terminology, and country listings that make clear that actions there are not regarded as actions within Israel. It is both unjustified and factually indefensible to label Ireland antisemitic by misrepresenting the intent and scope of its proposed legislation.

We also challenge the mischaracterization of Ireland’s position in the case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Your letter fails to note that Ireland is one of eleven nations to have joined the proceedings, and that this is not without precedent—Ireland has previously intervened in ICJ cases involving questions of international law and humanitarian obligations. Far from being the singular or provocative action you imply, Ireland’s participation reflects a consistent policy of supporting the rule of international law through recognized multilateral institutions.

We agree that there is indeed a “blatant double standard,” though it concerns Congressional reaction to Ireland’s foreign policy in this area rather than the actions of Ireland itself. The recent decisions by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia—three of America’s “Five Eyes” partners with whom we share our most trusted intelligence—to recognize the State of Palestine were met with little comment beyond polite disagreement, as epitomized by Vice President Vance’s observation regarding the United Kingdom’s decision to acknowledge Palestine: “Obviously, the United Kingdom is going to make its decision.” That acknowledgment of sovereignty was proper and should extend to Ireland as well.

We would also remind you, Congressman, that the Irish government allowed approximately three million U.S. troops to transit through Shannon Airport during the War on Terror, despite considerable domestic opposition and risk to its own neutrality, out of respect for its friend’s sovereign policy decisions. That same respect should now be reciprocated to a democratic ally whose friendship with the United States has been proven in both peace and war.

We will reserve comment on where the true “political theater” lies.

We categorically reject the defamatory and unsubstantiated charge in your letter that Ireland is promoting antisemitism. Ireland’s Jewish community has lived peacefully within Irish society for centuries, and the Irish Republic has consistently worked to uphold its constitutional promise to “cherish all the children of the nation equally” while condemning antisemitism in all its forms.

We would remind you, Congressman Gottheimer, that Dublin had a Jewish Lord Mayor before the United States had a Catholic President.

We also remind you that Irish Peacekeepers have protected the peace between Israel and Lebanon since 1978. To conflate a parliamentary debate over foreign policy with heinous acts such as the recent synagogue attack in Manchester—where two Jewish worshippers were murdered while observing Yom Kippur—is both irresponsible and deeply unjust. That real and tragic example illustrates how serious the accusation of antisemitism is, and how reckless it is to wield it irresponsibly, as it depreciates the gravity of such immoral acts.

Moving forward, we urge you to honor the historic friendship between Ireland and the United States by engaging in an exchange of ideas and facts, not unsubstantiated and inflammatory rhetoric.

Respectfully,

Neil F. Cosgrove, Political Education Chair, Ancient Order of Hibernians, USA