Ireland Turns on Joe Biden Over Israel

President Joe Biden is facing increased international criticism over his support for Israel as its war with Hamas continues.

On October 7, Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a surprise attack in the south of Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking hostages. The subsequent Israeli military response in Gaza has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians, according to the Associated Press. The conflict has escalated to other countries, with the U.S. and its allies carrying out attacks on Houthi bases in Yemen after the Houthis targeted shipping in the Red Sea in response to the war in Gaza.

The U.S. has long been an ally of Israel and Biden has supported the country with aid and weaponry. He has resisted calls for a ceasefire, despite global criticism, but also toughened his approach to Israel. In December, he told a campaign fundraising event that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is "starting to lose support" and that changes needed to be made because of the mounting death toll in Gaza.

As a result, while some have supported the President, Biden has faced some backlash, with a December poll by the New York Times/ Siena College finding that nearly 75 percent of a sample of young voters aged between 18 and 29 disapprove of how the Democrat is handling the conflict.

Now, it appears his policy is also having negative ramifications on his international reputation, particularly in Ireland, where Biden has heritage.

Newsweek contacted representatives for Biden by email to comment on this story.

Michael Desch, a professor of international relations at the University of Notre Dame who specializes in international relations, told Newsweek: "Blood is generally thicker than water and President Biden has had a good relationship with the Emerald Isle over the years given his family ties to the Old Sod.

"But there are limits to how much Irish ancestry will make up for the gallons of innocent blood being shed in Gaza by Israel with the Biden administration's reluctant support.

"In general, global opinion is turning against Israel and the United States and it is not surprising that many in Ireland would share this critical view.

"We are well past the point where wearing a shamrock on St. Patrick's Day will endear the president with his ancestors' country given his unconditional support of Israel's overreaction to the tragic events of 10/7."

Meanwhile, Robert Schmuhl, professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame and adjunct professor of law and government at Dublin City University, said: "President Biden's Irish heritage is important to his identity, but its value in Ireland is in jeopardy for what appears to many to be a lack of concern for the Palestinian people caught up in the war in Gaza. The perception abroad, particularly in Ireland, is that America's support of Israel tends to obscure a human tragedy—and Biden is paying a personal price in terms of popularity and respect for him.

"A big question is whether this opinion will affect the decisions the Irish government will make vis-a-vis Biden and the administration. Will, for example, Irish officials forego the traditional St. Patrick's Day activities in the White House this March? That's difficult to imagine, but well worth watching."

Meanwhile, speaking in a plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday, MEP Clare Daley, who is a member of the left-wing Irish party Independents 4 Change, which is part of the European Parliament group The Left in the European Parliament-GUE/NGL, criticized the U.S. president for supporting Israel and authorizing airstrikes on positions held by Iran-backed Houthis inside Yemen last week.

"Despite the catastrophic death toll it has inflicted, Israel is losing," Daly said. "On the ground and in the court of public opinion. There's no way that this ends that doesn't leave Israel a pariah state, with occupation and apartheid on borrowed time and they know it. So they're doing everything they can: desperate acts of aggression to provoke a wider conflict with Lebanon, with Iran, with anybody, to draw in the U.S. to save them from the consequences of their own actions.

"And as Yemen shows, butcher Biden is reporting for duty. With Europe's Frau Genocide by his side, they are the ones who have enabled the continuation of Israeli terror. Without them, it would already be over. So take notes butcher Biden: the ancestors of the Ireland that you claim to be from disown you. Keep our country out of your mouth. And as for [Ursula] von der Leyen and genocidal Germany with your words and deeds supporting Israel in the ICJ: not in our name! The people of Europe stand with Palestine and with South Africa."

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin, the nationalist party that is leading in national polls in Ireland, has long been vocal in its support for Palestine. In November, party leader Mary Lou McDonald called for Israel's ambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich, to be expelled during the party's annual conference.

There have also been calls for Irish politicians to show solidarity with the Palestinian people by refusing to attend St Patrick's Day celebrations in the White House.

Gerry Carroll, a member of the legislative assembly of Northern Ireland for the People Before Profit party, called for a boycott in January.

Biden visited Ireland in April 2023 and while he received a warm welcome for most of his visit left-wing Irish lawmakers in People Before Profit (PBP) boycotted Biden's speech to the country's parliament over his foreign policy including his support for Israel, months before the October 7 attacks.

However Peter McLoughlin, senior lecturer, School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen's University Belfast, said the Irish establishment is not "turning against Biden."

"I don't believe Ireland, and certainly not the Irish establishment, is turning against Biden per se, but like many people, particularly in Europe, the Irish are increasingly questioning the U.S. government's continued support for Israel at this time," he told Newsweek.

He added: "Irish opinion was probably ahead of that in most European countries in this – its own historical experience means it will always side with the perceived underdog in any conflict. However, there are so many reasons beyond the Israel-Palestine conflict that the Irish government will want to keep good relations with Biden—economic, due to support over the challenges of Brexit, etc. What might be more interesting is if Sinn Fein is part of the next Irish government, as Irish republicans have long made alliance with the cause of Palestinians. Equally, in power, realpolitik may create pressure for Sinn Fein to recalibrate its position here—at least in what it says to the U.S."