LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago
THE ISRAELI FOREIGN Minister Gideon Sa’ar has announced that the Israeli Embassy in Dublin is to be closed due to the Irish government’s “extreme anti-Israel policy”.
In a statement, Sa’ar said: “The antisemitic actions and rhetoric that Ireland is taking against Israel are based on delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state and on double standards.
“Ireland has crossed all red lines in its relationship with Israel. Israel will invest its resources in promoting bilateral relations with the countries of the world according to priorities that are also derived from the attitude of the various countries towards it.”
In a post to X, Taoiseach Simon Harris said that he “utterly reject[s] the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel”, adding that it is a “deeply regrettable decision from the Netanyahu government”.
Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-International law.”
This is a deeply regrettable decision from the Netanyahu government. I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-International law. https://t.co/rDga5GpT3u
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) December 15, 2024
In a statement, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that he also regretted the decision made by Israel and reiterated his call for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a surge of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
He also said that there are no plans to close Ireland’s embassy in Tel Aviv.
“Ireland’s position on the conflict in the Middle East has always been guided by the principles of international law and the obligation on all States to adhere to international humanitarian law.
”The continuation of the war in Gaza and the loss of innocent lives is simply unacceptable and contravenes international law. It represents the collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
Tensions between Ireland and Israel have been strained as the Irish government have voiced their support for Palestine as the conflict in Gaza rages on.
On Wednesday, Martin secured Cabinet approval for Ireland to intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel, which is currently before the International Court of Justice.
The case against Israel concerns breaches of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Ireland will support South Africa’s case against Israel, initiated following the launch of Israeli military operations in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
In May, Israel recalled its ambassadors in Ireland and Norway “for consultations” after both countries officially recognised Palestine as a state.
Following the official recognition, Irish ambassador to Israel Sonya McGuinness was summoned to the Israeli foreign affairs department and shown a video of the 7 October attacks by Hamas on Israel, as a “reprimand” for the government’s decision.
The Tánaiste, who is also the foreign affairs minister, said at the time that Israel’s actions are “no way to treat a diplomat” in their country and a “totally unacceptable”.
In a post on X at the time, then-foreign minister Israel Katz tagged Taoiseach Simon Harris and said “Hamas thanks you for your service”.
Katz is now Minister for Defence.
The Occupied Territories Bill, which would ban trade between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine, was another point of contention – with Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich saying that she was “disappointed” at the news that the Irish government was reviewing the Bill in October.
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