Israel orders Dublin embassy closed, accusing Ireland of ‘anti-Israeli’ initiatives

In the spring, Ireland announced the recognition of a State of Palestine, provoking the ire of the Jewish state.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday December 15 in a press release that it had ordered the closure of its embassy in Dublin after initiatives “anti-Israeli”. The Jewish State believes that Ireland had “crossed all the red lines”.

Diplomatic relations between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated following a series of initiatives, including Dublin’s recognition of a State of Palestine and support for proceedings brought by South Africa before the Court International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of “genocide” in the Gaza Strip where the country is at war with Hamas. In the spring, Ireland, alongside Norway and Spain, announced the recognition of a State of Palestine, provoking the ire of Israel.

“Ireland’s anti-Semitic actions and rhetoric against Israel are rooted in the delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state, as well as double standards”said the head of Israeli diplomacy, Gideon Saar, according to this press release.

Ireland reacted by deploring “a deeply regrettable decision by the Netanyahu government. I totally reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israeli”wrote the Irish Prime Minister, Simon Harris, on his X account. In November, he declared that the authorities of his country would detain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he went to Ireland, after the broadcast by the ICC of an arrest warrant against him.