Gideon Sa'ar to the Irish: "The talent for being on the wrong side remains intact"

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar harshly attacked the Irish national team and Irish policy ahead of the football match against Israel. Sa'ar linked a Nazi salute by Irish players in a 1939 match against Germany, Ireland's neutrality in World War II, and current Irish support for Palestinians. He accused Ireland of a "talent for being on the wrong side of history."

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar published a harsh tweet on X ahead of the football match between the Israeli and Irish national teams. Sa'ar linked three historical events: the Nazi salute by Irish players in a match against Nazi Germany in Bremen in May 1939; Ireland's neutrality policy during World War II, including condolences expressed by then-Prime Minister Éamon de Valera to the German representative in Dublin after Hitler's death; and Ireland's current stance toward Israel. Sa'ar wrote: "Almost 90 years have passed. The unique Irish talent for being on the wrong side of history – remains intact." He referred to the black armbands Irish players intend to wear during the match as a sign of solidarity with Palestinians, and claimed that "above the black armbands... flies the black flag of jihadism." Sa'ar concluded with wishes of success for the Israeli national team.