Published 16 December 2024 at 10.23
Foreign. Israel has announced that it will close its embassy in Dublin. According to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, the decision is a consequence of what he describes as Ireland's “extremely anti-Israel policy” and the country's support for legal action against the country.
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– Ireland has crossed all the red lines, says Saar and accuses Ireland of legitimizing anti-Semitism and demonizing the Jewish state.
He also mentions Ireland's decision to recognize a Palestinian state as a reason for the deteriorating relationship, BBC News reports.
The Israeli foreign minister also criticized Ireland's support for South Africa's legal action against Israel in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, ICJ, where the country is being investigated for genocide. According to him, Israel will now prioritize cooperation with other countries that have a more positive attitude to the events in Gaza.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris calls the decision “deeply regrettable” and denies that Ireland would be a country hostile to Israel. Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin has also expressed sadness at the decision and says that Ireland, for its part, has no plans to close its embassy in Israel.
– Ireland has always stood on the side of international law and demands that all parties respect humanitarian law, says Martin.
He also underlines the need for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
According to UN figures, at least 44,000 killed and more than 100,000 injured in Israel's war against the population of Gaza.