Social Democratic leader Holly Cairns. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has strongly rejected discrimination claims by Israel's ambassador to Ireland after the party deselected a local election candidate.
Ms Cairns said Orli Degani, who was due to stand as a candidate in Dún Laoighaire, Dublin, had been “withdrawn from the selection following a number of failed attempts to resolve issues”.
“Those efforts extended to the hiring of an external mediator and an internal review by our national executive branch. There was nothing discriminatory or unfair about the process,” Ms Cairns added.
Ms. Degani, a German-born Jewish woman with Israeli citizenship, was selected last year to run in next month's elections. She was deselected on April 26. This came after she raised the concerns of the local Jewish community with the party, Ms Degani said.
Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich later said Ms Degani “appears to have been discriminated against because of her nationality”.
Ms Cairns rejected the ambassador's claim, saying Ms Erlich should have contacted the party before making her comments.
The Cork South-West TD also called for the imposition of economic and diplomatic sanctions on Israel.
“It is clear that the Israeli ambassador made this gross and false accusation to deflect from the larger and much more important issue of the more than 34,000 people now murdered by the Israeli government in Gaza. This number includes more than 14,000 dead children,” Ms Cairns said.
“The Social Democrats remain absolutely committed to supporting the people of Gaza. We strongly oppose the genocide, torture and famine inflicted on them by an apartheid and brutal occupying state.”
Ms Degani still plans to contest the elections as an independent candidate.