In Dublin, a heated debate has erupted over the fate of Herzog Park, after petitions and pro-Palestine activists demanded the removal of the name of Chaim Herzog — former President of Israel — from the public park. The calls come amid growing solidarity with Palestinians and backlash over his historical military and political ties.
The park, formerly “Orwell Quarry Park,” was renamed Herzog Park in 1995 to honor Herzog, who was born in Belfast but grew up in Dublin.
In December 2024 a motion was introduced by a councillor from Sinn Féin to strip the name and replace it — possibly with “Free Palestine Park” or after a Palestinian child killed in Gaza, reflecting solidarity with Palestinian suffering.
Supporters of the change claim that maintaining the name of an Israeli figure in light of recent events undermines solidarity with Gaza and is inappropriate in a public space.
But the proposal has triggered a major backlash: the government of Ireland — including the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister — along with Jewish-community leaders, condemned the renaming as divisive and warned it would erode decades-long Jewish heritage in Ireland.
As of early December 2025, the full vote on the renaming has been postponed. Officials said the legislative framework for renaming public places was not fully in place and procedural issues remain, meaning the proposal is now on hold — at least temporarily.
