Israel closes embassy in Ireland
The Israeli government decided on Sunday to close the country's embassy in Ireland, following the Irish government's recognition of the state of Palestine and support for actions against Israel under international law.
Ireland officially recognized the state of Palestine in May 2024. Last week, Ireland announced that it would join South Africa's case against Israel at the UN International Court of Justice. The Irish Foreign Ministry has described Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip as "collective punishment" and a violation of international law.
Ireland said it had asked the international court to interpret the term "genocide" more broadly to cover crimes committed by states. The Irish Foreign Ministry said such a narrow interpretation could undermine human rights protections and lead to impunity.
Israel's ambassador to Ireland, Gideon Saar, called the actions "anti-Semitism and questioning the existence of the state of Israel." The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the Irish government of acting on double standards and mocking the Jewish state.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris has expressed his reaction to Israel's decision to close the embassy, calling it "regrettable and unfortunate." He stressed that Ireland has no anti-Israeli stance and supports the peaceful coexistence of two states - Israel and Palestine.
This Israeli decision is another manifestation of the serious tension in relations between the two countries, which could affect the regional and international political situation. Ireland's support for international actions against Israel could also lead to different relations among Western countries.
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