Dublin Hotel’s Rejection of Antisemitism Event Sparks Controversy

A Dublin hotel chose not to host an international conference aimed at combating antisemitism, withdrawing approximately 70 rooms reserved for attendees. The decision followed the hotel manager’s inquiry about potential involvement of the Israel Defense Forces, reported a Jewish leader present at the meeting.

Maurice Cohen, chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, told Fox News Digital he met with Herbert Park Hotel representatives on May 7. The meeting aimed to discuss arrangements for the event, which was part of the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism Conference.

The gathering, set in Dublin, Ireland, included Jewish leaders, diplomats, and government officials working against antisemitism.

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Herbert Park Hotel, a four-star hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin, confirmed in writing the reservation of about 70 rooms for event participants. Cohen described a change in the manager’s attitude upon her query about IDF involvement: “I was completely taken aback by that question,” Cohen told Fox News Digital.

Following the May 7 meeting, Cohen received an email on May 8 indicating the hotel could not accommodate the event. A subsequent inquiry revealed the reserved rooms were no longer available. Hotel management claimed the rooms were automatically released a week prior to the meeting, a fact undisclosed during discussions.

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Pro-Palestinian activists from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, along with left-wing party members and students, participated in a march on May 18, 2024, in Dublin. Cohen questioned the timing of the hotel’s room release, interpreting it as an excuse.

Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, criticized the hotel’s decision as an antisemetic act against the very efforts the conference intended to support. Cohen emphasized the evolving situation: “Seventy rooms had been booked. Seventy people had been welcomed as guests.”

The incident reflects ongoing concerns about antisemitism in Ireland. Cohen highlighted a lack of official monitoring for antisemitic incidents, meaning many remain undocumented.

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With around 2,200 individuals, Ireland’s Jewish community faces unique challenges. The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland recorded 143 reported incidents in a six-month period, including verbal abuse and discrimination.

The Irish government has not formally responded to inquiries about the hotel’s decision or potential investigations. Prime Minister Micheál Martin previously denounced antisemitism in an exclusive September interview.

Cohen advocated for hotel management to undergo training on understanding contemporary antisemitism. “They need to understand why they’re so wrong,” he stated, emphasizing the broader implications of their actions. Some Irish lawmakers reached out to Cohen, though no official government condemnation has been issued.

Fox News Digital reached out to both hotel management and its corporate owners; neither had responded as of publication.