Israeli man attacked in Dublin Bar in alleged anti-Semitic assault

An Israeli man, Tamir Ohayon, was allegedly attacked by two women at a bar in Dublin, who hurled anti-Semitic insults and spat on him. The incident took place at Hardy’s Bar in Dun Laoghaire, where the women were identified as Zeina Ismail and Lena Seale.

The confrontation began when Ismail and Seale reportedly confronted Ohayon over his alleged past service in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Seale referred to the Israeli military as “Occupying Forces” and stated that “no Zionist is welcome in Ireland.” In response, Ohayon, who was in Dublin on a business trip, recorded a video with the women, stating, “Zionists are not welcome in Ireland.”

The attack lasted several minutes, with Ohayon claiming that no one intervened during the incident. He later reported the assault to local police, but he stated authorities did not respond until two hours later. Ohayon, feeling unsafe after the attack, reportedly “locked” himself in his hotel room for safety.
The incident has sparked outrage, drawing condemnation from local leaders. Jim O’Leary, a member of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, labeled the attack as “pure, unadulterated anti-Semitism.”

The attack has raised concerns about the growing presence of anti-Semitism in Ireland and the need for greater vigilance and protection for individuals facing such discrimination. Ohayon’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that people of certain ethnic and religious backgrounds continue to face in some parts of the world.