Israel to shut embassy in Ireland over ‘extreme anti-Israel policies’
Israel said on Sunday it would close its Dublin embassy due to the Irish government’s “extreme anti-Israel policies” including recognition of a Palestinian state and support for international legal action against its war in Gaza.
Diplomatic ties between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated after Ireland recognized a Palestinian state and backed an International Court of Justice (ICJ) case accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza.
Ireland has also been among the most outspoken critics of Israel’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that sparked the war in Gaza.
Israel recalled its ambassador after Ireland’s decision on a Palestinian state in May, and was further angered last week when Dublin backed South Africa’s case at the ICJ accusing Israel of genocide.
Spain and Norway recognized a Palestinian state on the same day, with Slovenia following a week later, drawing retaliatory moves from Israel.
In November, Dublin accepted the appointment of a full Palestinian ambassador for the first time.
“The decision to close Israel’s embassy in Dublin was made in light of the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state, along with double standards. Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in the statement.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the decision was deeply regrettable and his nation would always stand up for human rights and international law.
“I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is propeace, prohuman rights and proInternational law,” he said in a post on X.
“Ireland wants a two state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security.”
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said the two countries would maintain diplomatic relations and there were no plans to close Ireland’s embassy in Israel.
Netanyahu arrest
Martin said in March that while it was for the ICJ, also known as the World Court, to decide whether genocide is being committed, he wanted to be clear that Palestinian militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the ensuing assault in its stronghold Gaza “represents the blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a mass scale.”
In November, the Irish prime minister said the country’s authorities would detain his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu if he traveled to Ireland after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him.
The ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant “for crimes against humanity and war crimes” committed between Oct. 8, 2023, and May 20 this year in the Gaza Strip.
The statement from Israel’s foreign ministry also announced the establishment of an Israeli embassy in Moldova.
Saar said Israel would invest its resources in building ties with other countries, and on Sunday announced the opening of an embassy in Moldova.
Meanwhile, Qatar-based Al Jazeera condemned the Sunday killing of one of its journalists in an Israeli strike on Gaza, calling the death a “targeted killing” in a statement.
“Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the killing of its cameraman, Ahmad Baker Al-Louh, 39, by the Israeli occupation forces,” the channel said.
The Israeli military confirmed that it had killed Louh, saying he was a member of Islamic Jihad and “served as a platoon commander” for the militant group.
