US Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing at the US Capitol, in Washington, DC, May 21, 2024. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

During Thursday’s confirmation hearing for the position of US ambassador to Ireland, Dublin’s long-standing skepticism towards Israel became a central point of discussion.

Edward Walsh, the Trump Administration’s pick to serve as the liaison between America and the Ireland, fielded comments from federal lawmakers over the Emerald Isle’s intense criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. 

“This is going to be a tough needle to thread when you got a close ally making a horrible mistake,” Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said about Ireland’s treatment of Israel, “But you have got to thread that needle and I hope you will convey the message that they are very much out of step with the United States as far as the relationship with those countries.”

Risch lamented Ireland’s decision to officially recognize a Palestinian state, calling the declaration “a heartbreaking mistake with zero recognition of what Hamas did on October 7.”

“I hope you will ensure that our friends in Ireland will understand that America strongly supports Israel,” Risch added. 

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) lambasted the International Criminal Court (ICC) for being “engaged in a campaign against our Israeli allies.” 

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas terror leader Ibrahim al-Masri (better known as Mohammed Deif) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. The ICC said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible for starvation in Gaza and the persecution of Palestinians — charges vehemently denied by Israel, which has provided significant humanitarian aid into the war-torn enclave throughout the war.

US and Israeli officials issued blistering condemnations of the ICC move, decrying the court for drawing a moral equivalence between Israel’s democratically elected leaders and the heads of Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group that launched the ongoing war in Gaza with its massacre across southern Israel last Oct. 7.

“These warrants are utterly illegitimate,” claimed Cruz, who added that the ICC’s warrant requests against Israeli leaders is “setting a precedent to go after countries who are not members of the Court, which exposes American soldiers and officials.”

“Ireland has filed a motion to directly boost the ICC campaign,” said Cruz.

Walsh agreed that Ireland’s lack of support for Israel represents a “big issue and a big concern.”

“We’re an ally of Israel so it’s a difficult conversation and I’d be glad to relay president Trump’s message over to them at any time,” 

In January, Ireland filed a motion to join South Africa’s bid to the ICC accusing Israel of “genocide.” Israel responded by closing their embassy in Ireland and issuing a statement blasting Dublin for backing “the politicized proceedings being conducted at the ICC against Israel and its leaders.”

Ireland’s relationship with Israel has sharply deteriorated following the events of October 7, when Hamas launched a deadly massacre on the Jewish state, slaughtering roughly 1200 individuals and kidnapping 250 others. While Ireland swiftly condemned the Hamas attacks, its government has since voiced mounting criticism of Israel’s conduct in the conflict, particularly in regard to the high civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In response, Israeli officials have accused Ireland of bias and undermining Israel’s right to self-defense, further souring diplomatic ties. The deepening rift reflects long-standing tensions over Middle East policy and positions Ireland as one of the most outspoken critics of Israel within the European Union.

The post US Lawmakers Grill Ireland Ambassador Nominee on Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Israelis stand for a moment of silence as the memorial siren sounds on Israel’s Memorial Day. Photo: Meir Pavlovsky, OneFamily

I was at the Memorial Day ceremony at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, which is like Israel’s Lincoln Center. This is not like America’s Memorial Day — there are no barbecues or celebrations. This is Israel: a small country, where everybody has lost somebody.

The commemorative siren sounded and thousands of people fell completely silent, some cried, a few dogs howled back at the siren. I saw two female police officers holding hands, one had tears in her eyes.

The siren ended and the ceremony proceeded, with speakers and prayers, but then, suddenly — screams.

“Screaming” isn’t really the right word — it was coming from all directions and sounded more like a huge high frequency roar, but not like in a sporting event. I can’t quite describe it; it was like hearing a tornado approach.

Then people were running, thousands of people, like a human tsunami — so I ran too. Because when something like this happens in Israel, you get to safety first and ask questions later.

To view a video of some of the event, click here.

Like most people around me, I first focused on getting some distance between myself and the event location, not knowing whether I might be about to run into something dangerous. I turned onto a side street because it seemed like a safe direction to go, then I saw some people running into a building, and I ran there too because it simply seemed to make sense. I found myself in someone’s apartment with about 20 other people.

I don’t remember falling along the way, but I noticed my knee was hurting, and my pants were ripped, so apparently I had.

One of the people in the apartment was crying and panicking, a young American girl, probably high school age, who didn’t speak Hebrew. So I sat with her explained what little I knew, as a few of us tried to give her some degree of comfort. I could at least offer a familiar American voice to talk to.

I also walked around and asked people if anyone had cell phone reception or had heard any news, and for the most part the answer was no. Later, when everything seemed OK, I thanked the apartment owner for “hosting” us and stood outside with the American girl waiting for her mother to come get her.

An Israeli woman nearby seemed concerned and I offered to walk her home. She thanked me, and told me her husband thanks me too — he was on the phone from Gaza where he was serving in combat that very night.

So what actually happened?

According to reports, several suspicious people, apparently wearing what appeared to be combat vests, tried to force their way through security into the ceremony. The suspicious people were arrested without further incident. Some conflicting reports said the suspects had attempted to attack police. Whatever it was, something about the interaction triggered a panic, which spread.

The police officially say this was not a “security event” but it’s important to remember that at the time, none of us knew that. We knew only that there was an urgent need to run, possibly for our lives.

I don’t mean to compare this small experience to some of the more dramatic ones Israelis have faced and continue to face: our hostages, our lost loved ones, our fallen soldiers, and more. But I can say this: in 14 years, I’ve been in my share of bomb shelters, and heard my share of sirens, yet this is the first time I’ve been inside of what one might call an “event.”

Meanwhile, terrorists successfully managed to set the countryside around Jerusalem on fire, cancelling numerous Memorial Day and Independence Day events and setting Israelis to work fighting the blaze.

It is well understood by all Israelis that terrorists favor large crowds and symbolic events for their attacks. A Memorial Day ceremony in Tel Aviv would be an ideal target — this reality was in the back of everyone’s mind from the beginning — which probably contributed to the rapid and dramatic reaction of the crowd.

And there’s something simply amazing about that: knowing that we realistically might be walking into danger, we came anyway. We came by the thousands, to HaBima Square and to other ceremonies across the country. We also show up to our jobs, and our lives, we take public transportation, we visit parks, and malls, protests and yes, even music festivals. The day-to-day courage of ordinary Israelis is remarkable, and touching beyond words.

There’s an Israeli expression: on Memorial Day, we acknowledge the painful cost of having a state; on Yom HaShoah (Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day) we acknowledge the cost of not having one.

And finally, on Independence Day, we celebrate. Celebrations are muted this year: due to the fires around Jerusalem, the hostages in Gaza, and our loved ones in the IDF fighting on seven different fronts.

Nonetheless, I wish you all a Happy Independence Day from Israel.

Daniel Pomerantz is the CEO of RealityCheck, an organization dedicated to deepening public conversation through robust research studies and public speaking.

The post Panic on Memorial Day: Sights and Sounds From Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) members occupying an administrative building at Barnard College on Feb. 26, 2025. Photo: Screenshot

At universities like Columbia and Harvard, students are facing suspensions, arrests, and academic consequences following recent protests related to the war in Gaza. Some argue that this is an attack on free speech and student activism.

But the reality is different. Students are not being punished for supporting Palestinian rights. They are facing consequences because too many of these protests have crossed a critical line: openly supporting Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre in Israel.

In America, free speech protects the right to criticize governments, advocate for Palestinian self-determination, and demand a ceasefire. These are legitimate and important political positions. They deserve protection.

However, there is a sharp distinction between peaceful advocacy and the glorification of violence. Many recent campus protests have included slogans like “Glory to the martyrs,” calls for “resistance by any means,” and imagery celebrating Hamas. That is not free speech in the traditional sense. It becomes a form of incitement — especially when Jewish students are threatened, harassed, or made to feel unsafe.

This is not a minor semantic issue. Words, symbols, and slogans matter. When demonstrators glorify violence, they create an environment that feels unsafe, particularly for students who belong to communities that have been targets of that violence. Universities have a responsibility to intervene when speech escalates into intimidation and fear.

There’s a reason why so many Jewish students report fearing for their safety. At Columbia, some were advised by university officials to evacuate dorms. Across several campuses, Jewish students have been harassed with slurs, physically blocked from buildings, and made to feel that they are personally responsible for an international conflict simply because of their identity.

Protesting is a right. Intimidating classmates and celebrating terror is not.

When universities respond to these actions — through arrests, suspensions, or disciplinary processes — they are not punishing a political viewpoint. They are enforcing long-standing rules about safety, campus operations, and harassment. Occupying academic buildings without permission, refusing lawful orders, and promoting violence violate university policies — no matter the cause.

This is about action, not opinion. Students are not facing discipline for holding unpopular views. They are facing discipline because of the way they have chosen to express those views: by violating campus rules, disrupting learning environments, and in some cases, advocating for violence against others.

No one is asking for the suppression of Palestinian voices. Students absolutely have the right to criticize Israeli policies, call for humanitarian aid, and advocate for a two-state solution. What they don’t have the right to do is glorify terrorist groups that target civilians.

It’s important to remember that Hamas is responsible for the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Elevating Hamas as a symbol of “resistance” erases the reality of the atrocities committed — including the mass murder of civilians, sexual violence, and hostage-taking. It sends a chilling message to Jewish students: your suffering doesn’t matter.

Moreover, supporting Hamas is not a matter of personal interpretation. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States government. Universities have a legal and moral obligation not to allow campus spaces to become platforms for the support of such groups.

Universities are obligated to protect all students, including Jewish students, from violence and intimidation. The moment political advocacy slips into supporting terrorism and hatred, consequences are not only appropriate — they are necessary.

If universities allow their campuses to become safe havens for the glorification of terror, they betray their core missions: to foster open inquiry, to safeguard every student, and to promote respectful dialogue — not to enable extremism. Support for Palestinian rights must not become a cover for glorifying terrorism. If we are serious about free speech, justice, and equality, then we must also be serious about drawing a clear moral line against violence.

Defending campuses as places of safety, dialogue, and learning for all students is not censorship. It’s a defense of the very democratic values these institutions are meant to uphold.

Dr. Daniel Beaudoin is a senior lecturer in political science and crisis management at Tel Aviv University, and the executive director of the European International Society for Military Ethics.

The post Universities Aren’t Cracking Down on ‘Anti-Israel’ Views; They Are Cracking Down on Supporting Terrorism and Harassing Students first appeared on Algemeiner.com.