President Michael D Higgins has asserted he holds no remorse over statements he previously made in New York concerning the dissemination of a letter he had composed, circulated via social media by the Israeli embassy. The letter was addressed to Iran’s recently elected leader.
Last month, Mr Higgins was targeted with criticism by several politicians due to the letter, which initially made rounds on social media. He acknowledged on Sunday to reporters that although the Israeli embassy had circulated the letter he was ignorant of how they had gained possession of it. He suggested that the critics’ origins and motives, and how the letter was disseminated and by whom, should be examined. He clarified that it hadn’t been leaked, but circulated.
During a press briefing in New York on Monday afternoon, a query was posed to Mr Higgins regarding any possible regrets over his initial comments, which were received poorly by the Israeli embassy. He responded, “Not at all,” and revealed he had written a formal letter commemorating the new head of state, highlighting the urgency of peace in the region.
Adding to this, he noted that a statement came from the embassy disputing why the President had made certain mentions and not others. He labelled such an act as unusual and in certain diplomatic circles, improper. The President steered clear of the word ‘leaked’ and opted for ‘circulated,’ which was confirmed.
In edgy conversations with the press, he implied journalists’ roles in crafting the narrative or giving a certain spin to the language, thereby making them responsible for their wording choices.
Mr. Higgins stated he believes his letter was posted on an Iranian website, to which the Israeli embassy anomalously responded by authoring a letter condemning Ireland’s President for issuing a letter to Iran’s incoming president. The matter ended there.
Earlier in the day, Taoiseach Simon Harris noted he wouldn’t get caught up in Israel’s “ploy” of making the letter a contentious issue.
Mr. Harris mentioned that he had attended a meeting earlier where the Palestinian prime minister was in tears over the massacre of children in his own country by Israeli forces that day. He said at least 21 children in Lebanon were killed by Israel that day. Therefore, he had no interest in getting agitated over the issue of a letter’s origin, which he described as thoroughly irrelevant to the crucial matter at hand.
It has also come to light that the Taoiseach and President discussed Israel’s censure of his letter to Iran in recent weeks. Mr. Harris mentioned that except for Article 28 discussions, which are confidential, the matter had not arisen.