While geographically separated to a significant degree, Ireland and Israel do share certain similarities in their respective histories. Having emerged from British control, Ireland and Israel both struggled to achieve national liberation. Today, they maintain diplomatic relations and have strong economic ties; according to its Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel imported $1.179 billion worth of Irish goods and exported $105.6 million worth of its own goods to Ireland in 2018.
Indeed, the relationship between Ireland and Israel is profoundly interesting. It is multi-dimensional, involving similar historical paths as well as traditional socio-economic relations. It is also incredibly important to consider, given the rapidly shifting international environment both small states find themselves in.
Please join the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies and the Center for German and European Studies at Brandeis University for a roundtable discussion on the subject of the Israeli/Irish relationship on Monday, March 11 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in the Mandel Reading Room (third floor, Mandel Center for the Humanities).
The discussion will touch on aspects of Ireland’s and Israel’s national liberation movements and how the relationship has changed from the beginning to the present, as well as implications for that relationship going forward. Panelists will include a former Ambassador of Israel to Ireland, Alexander Kaye (the Karl, Harry, and Helen Stoll Assistant Professor of Israel Studies and Assistant Professor in the Department of Near East and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University), and Frances Malio (the Sophia Moses Robison Professor Emerita of Jewish Studies and History at Wellesley University.
The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Lisa Lynch, Provost and the Maurice B. Hexter Professor of Social and Economic Policy at Brandeis University.
This event is free and open to the public.
We hope to see you there!
In the context of historical content, both Israel and Ireland have emerged from British rule as independent national states. However, British rule left marks on the identities of both countries as they achieve independence through national liberalism. In such regard, they share certain aspects of their identities and histories based on the common ground of being influenced by British culture. This social and cultural tie continues to exist today between these two entirely different entities. Specifically, their relationship today relies heavily on the exchanges of consumer commodities and industrial equipment; Israel exports to Ireland gems, textiles, fruit and vegetables in exchange of machinery, electronics, and chemicals.
In 1917, British controlled Israel, and Israel was independent from Britain in 1948. As a controversial area, Israel has had a lot of conflicts even till now. It was largely influenced by British, but it also preserved its own culture well. Personally I think the most important reason that caused the national liberation of Israel was religion. The loyalty to religion unites Jewish people together. Ireland was the first country that got independence from Britain. In 1920, Ireland stayed in the British Commonwealth of Nations for a while, and then Ireland declared independence from the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1948. Thus there are many connections and contradictions in different aspects between Ireland and Britain. Nowadays, all of Irish citizens who lived in Britain for more than three months can vote in Britain, and all of British citizens who lived in Ireland for more than three months can vote in Ireland. To my point of view, the core problem that caused the national liberation movement of Ireland was the failure of admitting British identity and exclusion of Irish which were the minority in British nations. In order to secure their sovereignty, both Israel and Ireland should actively engage in global trade and politics.