Three men assaulted a Jewish man at a nightclub in Dublin last month in what is being described as an antisemitic attack, The Irish Times reported on Saturday.
The man, who was not named but was described as a student from the United States who is living in Ireland, was wearing a Star of David necklace at the club on Nov. 9 when three men approached him and one of them asked whether he was Jewish, according to the report. When he replied that he was, the men attacked, causing him a concussion before security intervened.
One suspect was arrested and may be prosecuted for a hate crime, the newspaper reported.
Israel’s ambassador to Dublin, Dana Erlich, condemned the alleged assault and said there has been an “alarming increase” in anti-Israel discourse in Ireland that frequently “mutates” into antisemitism. Despite the attack, the victim remains determined to stay in Ireland, asserting that antisemitism must be confronted.
Separately, an Irish musician with the rock band Fontaines D.C. used his speech in London while accepting a prestigious award to fulminate against Zionism and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Free Palestine, f**k Netanyahu and f**k Zionism,” guitarist Carlos O’Connell said at the end of his remarks at Friday’s Rolling Stone UK Awards 2024 ceremony in London. His band won The Album Award for its release titled Romance.
Ireland is among the E.U. member states with the most hostile policy towards Israel, joining Spain and Norway in recognizing a Palestinian state in May.
