Mon Sep 23 16:48:07 UTC 2024: ## Irish President Accuses Israeli Embassy of Leaking Congratulatory Letter to Iranian Counterpart
**United Nations, New York** – Irish President Michael D. Higgins has accused the Israeli embassy in Dublin of leaking a letter he sent to his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, congratulating him on his new position.
Higgins, speaking to reporters at the UN on Sunday, did not provide evidence but stated he was “certain” the leak originated from the embassy. He questioned the embassy’s motives, asking, “Why don’t you ask where it came from?… Where the criticism came from and how the letter was circulated and by whom and for what purpose?”
The letter itself acknowledged Iran’s “crucial role” in achieving peace in the Middle East.
The Israeli embassy vehemently denied the accusation, calling it “baseless,” “highly inflammatory,” and “potentially slanderous.” In a statement, the embassy asserted that the letter’s content should be defended by its author, emphasizing the threat Iran poses to the region, its support of terrorist organizations, and its human rights violations.
The embassy also accused Ireland of subjecting Israel to “malicious statements and accusations” since October 7, claiming this “often manifested as incitement to hatred.”
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris defended Higgins, stating that the president was concerned with the humanitarian situation in Gaza while simultaneously accusing Israel of perpetuating a “horrific humanitarian situation.”
Harris dismissed the embassy’s claims, stating that the leaked letter was “normal diplomatic protocol” and expressed no interest in engaging in a tit-for-tat exchange with the Israeli embassy.
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