Taoiseach Calls for Withdrawal of Herzog Park Renaming Proposal

A proposal to rename Herzog Park in Dublin has sparked significant controversy, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin labeling it “divisive and wrong.” The Dublin City Council is set to vote on the matter on Monday, amid widespread discussions regarding the legacy of Chaim Herzog, a former president of Israel after whom the park was named in 1995. The park honors Herzog, who spent part of his childhood in Dublin and served as Israel’s president from 1983 to 1993.

In a statement made on Sunday, Martin urged that the proposal be withdrawn entirely, emphasizing that it would erase the historical contributions of Jewish communities to Irish life. He remarked, “This proposal would erase the distinctive and rich contribution to Irish life of the Jewish communities over many decades.” The Taoiseach further characterized the motion as a denial of Ireland’s history and warned that it could be perceived as anti-Semitic.

The controversy traces back to a motion submitted in June 2023 by Sinn Féin councillor Kourtney Kenny to rename Herzog Park to Hind Rajab Park. This name change aims to commemorate a five-year-old girl, Hind Rajab, who was killed in Gaza on January 29, 2024, along with six family members. Although Kenny’s motion was not initially put before the council, discussions led to the issue being referred to the commemorations committee in December 2023.

In January 2024, Conor Reddy, a councillor from People Before Profit, noted a petition had gathered over 2,700 signatures in support of renaming the park. Council officials cited a naming policy adopted in 2017 that requires nominees to have died at least 20 years prior or to have reached their 100th birthday. In July, the commemorations committee recommended the removal of the Herzog name with minimal objections. The committee also agreed to initiate a consultation process for a new name.

Opposition to the renaming has been vocal, with criticism surfacing on social media. Reddy defended the proposal, stating, “I don’t buy for a second this idea that this is anti-Semitic.” He argued that after recent events in Gaza, it is legitimate to reconsider the name of a park honoring a figure associated with the foundation of Israel. Suggested new names include Palestine Park, Gaza Park, and Max Levitas Park, named after a notable Jewish activist from Dublin.

Michael Herzog, a son of Chaim Herzog and a former Israeli ambassador to the United States, expressed dismay over the potential renaming. He stated on X, “It is sad to see how the fact that one of Ireland’s prominent Jewish figures became president of the State of Israel turned from being a source of pride to Dublin to being a source of denial.” He added that his father fought against the Nazis and highlighted the contributions of the Herzog family to Irish life.

Current Chief Rabbi of Ireland, Yoni Wieder, remarked that Herzog Park symbolizes more than just a name. “For those who live nearby, and especially for the neighbouring Jewish families and schools, it’s a place filled with memory, and an important reminder that our community has deep roots in Dublin,” he commented. Wieder asserted that renaming the park would erase a significant chapter of shared Irish-Jewish history.

The Israeli President’s Office issued a statement expressing concern about the potential renaming. It noted that Chaim Herzog was not only an Israeli leader but also a hero in the fight against Nazism and a figure dedicated to promoting values of freedom and tolerance. The statement emphasized the importance of the Herzog name in representing the historical ties between Israel and Ireland.

Commentary from various political figures also highlighted the implications of such a decision. Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice and the representative for the constituency where the park is located, stated that renaming the park would be unfair to Chaim Herzog and the Jewish community in Ireland. He emphasized Herzog’s historical connection to Ireland and his role in opening the Irish Jewish Museum in 1985.

As the Dublin City Council prepares to vote, the debate surrounding Herzog Park raises complex questions about heritage, memory, and the evolving dynamics of cultural recognition within the community. The outcome of the vote could have lasting implications on how the history of Jewish contributions in Ireland is perceived and memorialized.