Irish FM lashes US envoy for ‘biased’ Hanukkah tweet on Jerusalem

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney lashes the American ambassador in Israel for his Hanukkah praise for ancient “Jewish patriots” and assertion that “Jerusalem is the ancient and modern capital of Israel.”

“U are working on a New Peace Initiative that we all hope will be fair, balanced and successful. But comments like this will be seen as provocative and biased. Not helpful in creating the necessary environment of compromise,” Coveney tells Ambassador David Friedman on Twitter.

Early Monday, Friedman tweeted, “More than 2000 years ago, Jewish patriots (Maccabees) captured Jerusalem, purified the Holy Temple and rededicated it as a house of Jewish worship. The U.N. cant vote away the facts: Jerusalem is the ancient and modern capital of Israel. Happy Chanukah from this blessed city!”

More than 2000 years ago, Jewish patriots (Maccabees) captured Jerusalem, purified the Holy Temple and rededicated it as a house of Jewish worship. The U.N. cant vote away the facts: Jerusalem is the ancient and modern capital of Israel. Happy Chanukah from this blessed city!

— Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Stephanie Hallett (@USAmbIsrael) December 3, 2018

U are working on a New Peace Initiative that we all hope will be fair, balanced and successful. But comments like this will be seen as provocative and biased. Not helpful in creating the necessary environment of compromise. @UN @UNRWA

— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) December 3, 2018