Panel, serving there until 1981. He briefly served again in the European Parliament from February to June 1984 when he replaced Séamus Pattison. Later life and death In the aftermath of President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's "World Without Zionism" speech in 2005, Keating published an op-ed in The Dubliner Magazine, expressing his views on Israel. The article starts by claiming that "the Zionists have absolutely no right in what they call Israel". Keating then proceeds to explain why he thinks Israel has no right to exist, claiming that the Ashkenazi Jews are descended from Khazars. Keating died on 31 December 2009, one week before his 80th birthday. Tributes came from the leaders of the Labour Party and Fine Gael at the time of his death, Eamon Gilmore and Enda Kenny, as well as former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach John Bruton. References External links 1930 births 2009 deaths Alumni of the University of London Alumni of University College Dublin Irish veterinarians Jacob's Award winners Labour Party (Ireland) TDs Labour Party (Ireland) MEPs Members of the 19th Dáil Members of the 20th Dáil Members of the 14th Seanad MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 1973 MEPs for the Republic of Ireland 1979–1984 Academics of Trinity College Dublin Politicians from Dublin (city) RTÉ television presenters People educated at Sandford Park School Labour Party (Ireland) senators Ministers for Enterprise, Trade and Employment