# Dublin Hotel Accused of Revoking Antisemitism Conference Booking Over Alleged IDF Ties

> The Herbert Park Hotel in Dublin reportedly canceled a reservation for approximately 70 rooms meant for delegates of an antisemitism conference after a hotel manager allegedly inquired about the event's connection to the Israel Defense Forces.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-17T01:05:03.332676Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/dublin-hotel-accused-of-revoking-antisemitism-conference-booking-over-alleged-idf-ties-67e17683

The Herbert Park Hotel in Dublin reportedly revoked a booking for approximately 70 rooms in October 2026, intended for delegates attending the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Forum [1][2][3][8][11][14]. The alleged cancellation followed a hotel manager's inquiry about potential ties between the event and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) [3][8][12][15].

This incident drew condemnation from Jewish leaders and officials, who stated it illustrates the very prejudice the conference aimed to counter, occurring at a time of heightened concern over antisemitism in Ireland [9][10][16].

## What records show

Maurice Cohen, chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, disclosed the incident during a reception at Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs [8][11][14]. Cohen stated that the Herbert Park Hotel in Ballsbridge initially accepted the booking for SECCA Forum delegates [1][3][8][14]. He explained the event was a civilian and diplomatic forum focused on combating antisemitism, held as an Associated Event under Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union [5][7][8][12]. During this discussion, the manager reportedly asked, “Will the IDF be involved?” [3][8][12][15]. A day later, the hotel canceled the reservation [1][3][8][11]. Delegates were subsequently accommodated at a different Dublin hotel, allowing the SECCA Forum to proceed as planned [8].

## The cancelled booking

The SECCA Forum, held from October 12 to 14, 2026, brought together special envoys, Jewish community representatives, technology companies, government officials, and civil society organizations from EU member states [5][7][10]. Its agenda focused on “Tackling antisemitism in the digital age” and aimed to strengthen alliances to safeguard Jewish life [6][7]. The event intended to reinforce Ireland's commitment to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism [8]. Cohen publicly questioned the hotel's actions, stating, “How quickly does the word 'Jewish' change a conversation? How easily does a gathering about antisemitism become associated with the Israeli army?” [8]. He also indicated that “every angle will be considered” for potential next steps, including legal action under the Equal Status Acts [13].

## Reactions

The European Jewish Congress (EJC) labeled the incident “deeply disturbing” [9][10]. Ireland's Chief Rabbi, Yoni Wieder, described the hotel's decision as an “apparent 'disgrace'” [12]. Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter called the incident “a vile illustration of the issue to be addressed” [16]. These reactions occur as Jewish leaders in Ireland express increasing concern regarding hostility towards Jews [8][16]. Maurice Cohen reported 143 antisemitic incidents in Ireland between July 2025 and January 2026, within a Jewish community estimated to be around 2,200 people [8][18].

## What we could not confirm

When approached for comment, the Herbert Park Hotel declined to issue a statement on the allegations [8]. The specific reasons communicated by higher management for the cancellation in their email have not been publicly detailed [12].

## Evidence cited
1. Dublin Hotel Accused of Revoking Bookings for an Event to Combat Antisemitism (www.nytimes.com) — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/world/europe/ireland-dublin-hotel-antisemitism.html
2. Dublin hotel cancels 70 rooms for antisemitism conference (israelnationalnews.com) — https://israelnationalnews.com/
3. Instagram post by ranalkalay (instagram.com) — https://instagram.com/
4. Dublin hotel cancels 70 rooms for antisemitism summit, asks if conference is linked to IDF : r/jewishpolitics (reddit.com) — https://reddit.com/
5. Strengthening Alliances to Safeguard Jewish Life (worldjewishcongress.org) — https://worldjewishcongress.org/
6. Jillian Segal urges stronger accountability at Dublin Antisemitism Forum (jwire.com.au) — https://jwire.com.au/
7. International meeting of Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism | European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (europa.eu) — https://europa.eu/
8. Dublin Hotel Cancels Bookings for Delegates of International Antisemitism Conference (combatantisemitism.org) — https://combatantisemitism.org/
9. Dublin hotel 'cancelled 70-room booking for antisemitism conference delegates' - The Jewish Chronicle (thejc.com) — https://thejc.com/
10. Dublin hotel cancels reservations of delegates attending antisemitism conference (jpost.com) — https://jpost.com/
11. Dublin hotel cancels 70 rooms for antisemitism conference over alleged IDF ties (ynetnews.com) — https://ynetnews.com/
12. Former Irish justice minister slams Dublin hotel for canceling antisemitism conference (timesofisrael.com) — https://timesofisrael.com/
13. ‘Every angle will be considered’ after hotel cancelled booking for antisemitism conference delegates (irishtimes.com) — https://irishtimes.com/
14. Irish Jewish leader ‘shocked’ after hotel cancels over 70 rooms for antisemitism conference (jta.org) — https://jta.org/
15. Dublin hotel asks if antisemitism conference is linked to IDF, then cancels booking (ejewishphilanthropy.com) — https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/
16. Dublin hotel asks if antisemitism conference is linked to IDF, then cancels booking (jewishinsider.com) — https://jewishinsider.com/
17. youtube.com (youtube.com) — https://youtube.com/
18. First-Ever Study on Antisemitism in Ireland Reveals Most Incidents Go Unreported - Algemeiner.com (algemeiner.com) — https://algemeiner.com/
19. Irish Jews report 143 antisemitic incidents over six months (forward.com) — https://forward.com/
20. Dublin hotel cancels 70 rooms for antisemitism summit over alleged IDF ties (vinnews.com) — https://vinnews.com/
21. Dublin hotel cancelled a group reservation for 70 rooms booked for delegates attending an international conference on combating antisemitism - European Jewish Congress (eurojewcong.org) — https://eurojewcong.org/
22. Dublin hotel asks if antisemitism conference is linked to IDF, then cancels booking (fljewishnews.com) — https://fljewishnews.com/
23. Dublin hotel cancels 70 rooms for antisemitism summit, asks if conference is linked to IDF (middleamericanews.com) — https://middleamericanews.com/
24. Dublin hotel cancels booking for antisemitism conference delegates (anglicanmainstream.org) — https://anglicanmainstream.org/
25. Dublin hotel cancels 70 rooms for antisemitism summit over alleged IDF ties (lunitraba.blog) — https://lunitraba.blog/
26. Dublin hotel cancels 70 rooms for antisemitism summit, asks if conference is linked to IDF (hrvoices.org) — https://hrvoices.org/