There is a widening rift between Dublin and Washington over the Irish government's Occupied Territories Bill.
And that rift is being most glaringly reflected in comments from Jerusalem by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Huckabee has described the bill as being "stupid" and stated that Ireland was suffering from “diplomatic intoxication."
Huckabee, a onetime presidential hopeful, posted: “Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness & propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to act of diplomatic intoxication? It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up Ireland! Call @IsraelMFA & say you’re sorry!”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin quickly rejected Huckabee's assertion.
The Irish Times reported: "Mike Huckabee’s comments came amid similar criticisms from a number of senior US politicians, who warned the Government that enacting the Occupied Territories Bill would be harmful for Ireland.
"The proposed Bill is expected to go before the Dáil in the autumn. The legislation would prohibit trading with companies operating in illegal settlements in the West Bank and other occupied territories.
"At least 10 members of Congress have shared their criticisms of the Bill on X (formerly Twitter) in what would appear to be a concerted campaign."
The taoiseach, in responding to Huckabee, said: “I reject the comments made by the ambassador. The situation is very serious in Gaza, including an appalling loss of human life. Terrible war crimes are being committed.”
There was “continuing shocking behaviour” in the West Bank, including “the freedom that’s given to extreme settlers to destroy settlements and housing belonging to Palestinians who’ve been there on that land for generations."
The Occupied Territories Bill has prompted accusations of Anti-Semitism by some members of Congress but this has been strongly rejected by the Irish government.
