Dublin Park Name Change: A Pause in the Debate

In Dublin, a decision on whether to rename a park has been put on hold. The park currently honors Chaim Herzog, a former Israeli president who grew up in Dublin. Some people want to change the name to show support for Palestinians. They point to Herzog's past roles in Israeli military intelligence and as a military governor in the West Bank. Others strongly disagree. Isaac Herzog, the current Israeli president and Chaim's son, called the idea shameful. He believes it would be unfair to the Jewish community in Ireland. Similarly, Israel's foreign minister said Ireland might be becoming a place where antisemitism is growing. The Dublin City Council decided to delay the vote. They said new rules about renaming places are not ready yet. This move came after Ireland's prime minister and other top officials spoke out against the name change. They said it could divide people and hurt the Jewish community. Ireland has been very critical of Israel's actions in Gaza. Last year, it officially recognized Palestine as a state. The country is also trying to limit trade with Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. There are very few Jewish people living in Ireland today. The 2022 census showed just over 2, 000, a big drop from a century ago.