The Herbert Park Hotel in Dublin canceled a reservation for 70 rooms set aside for delegates attending an international conference on combating antisemitism after discovering the nature of the event, Maurice Cohen, chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, said. The cancellation came shortly after Cohen met with hotel management, during which he was questioned about whether the gathering was linked to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Cohen recounted that the hotel manager’s attitude shifted noticeably once it emerged that the delegates were Jewish leaders. He described the episode as emblematic of the very issues the conference sought to address, highlighting how Jewish identity is often conflated with Israel and, by extension, with suspicion.
“Contemporary antisemitism does not always manifest through overt slurs or threats,” Cohen said. “Increasingly, it can appear as a question, a precaution, or a policy—treating Jewish identity as evidence of political allegiance.”
The European Jewish Congress called the incident “deeply disturbing,” emphasizing that canceling accommodation for participants in a conference dedicated to tackling antisemitism reflects the same prejudice the event aimed to challenge. The group urged that Jewish organizations and those combating hatred should never face exclusion or discrimination due to their work.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry criticized the Irish government for what it described as a failure to address antisemitism domestically while leveraging the issue in diplomatic contexts.
The conference in question was the 15th meeting of the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Forum, held in Dublin from October 12 to 14. Organized by the World Jewish Congress in partnership with the European Commission, the forum convened as an Associated Event under Ireland’s rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Delegates included Jewish community leaders from around the world, government envoys, representatives from international organizations, and executives from major technology companies. Among those present were members of the Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism, representing groups from Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The agenda featured a meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheál Martin; visits to the European headquarters of TikTok and Meta; and discussions on regulating online platforms amid rising concerns of antisemitism and racism on digital media. Colm Brophy, a member of the Irish parliament, welcomed the event, underscoring the importance of addressing the increase in online hate speech.
The incident at the hotel unfolded amid escalating tensions between Ireland and Israel. Relations have deteriorated after Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state, legal and diplomatic actions critical of Israel, and a controversial proposal by Dublin City Council to rename Herzog Park, which originally honored former Israeli president Chaim Herzog, to “Free Palestine Park.” Though the renaming effort was condemned by Irish officials, the conference delegates visited the park during their stay.
Maram Stern, executive vice president of the World Jewish Congress, emphasized that the Dublin meeting was a critical platform for advancing cooperation between Jewish organizations, governments, and technology companies to develop practical solutions for protecting Jewish communities worldwide.