The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement on Sunday that it had ordered the closure of its embassy in Dublin after several initiatives deemed “anti-Israeli”, believing that Ireland had “crossed all red lines”.
“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. Ireland has crossed all red lines in its relations with Israel,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in the statement.
Diplomatic relations between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated following several initiatives, including Dublin’s recognition of the State of Palestine and support for proceedings initiated by South Africa before the International Court of Justice ( ICJ), accusing Israel of “genocide” in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been at war against Hamas since October 7, 2023, the date of the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement against Israel.
In the spring, Ireland announced, alongside Norway and Spain, the recognition of the State of Palestine, which angered Israel.
“The decision to close the Israeli embassy in Dublin was taken in light of the extreme anti-Israeli actions of the Irish government,” the Israeli ministry added.
Ireland responded by calling the decision “deeply regrettable”. “I totally reject the claim that Ireland is anti-Israeli,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris wrote on his X account.
In November, he said his country’s authorities would detain Mr Netanyahu if he traveled to Ireland, after an arrest warrant was issued for him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
(With AFP)
Swiss
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