Israel declared Sunday that it is closing its Dublin embassy in response to what it called “the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government.” The announcement came just after Ireland said it would support with a legal intervention South Africa’s action at the International Court of Justice that accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, The New York Times reported.
The embassy closure does not mean that Israel is cutting off diplomatic relations with Ireland, which will continue to operate an embassy in Tel Aviv. But it does suggest that Israel is not prepared to mutely accept criticism from some Western countries who have clearly rejected Israel’s ongoing actions fighting terrorism in Gaza. The most recent conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian terrorists stormed across the border and massacred 1,200 Israelis, kidnapping another 200. The more aggressive posture is said to be a result of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar who is more of a diplomatic hawk, according to The Times.
“Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel,” Saar said in a statement on Sunday, promising that “Israel will invest its resources in advancing bilateral relations with countries worldwide according to priorities that also take into account the attitudes and actions of these states toward Israel.” Israel will be opening a new embassy in Moldova, where the government has not criticized Israeli war policy. “The relations between Israel and Moldova are friendly and both countries seek to expand and deepen them,” Saar said.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, style="text-decoration:none">said it is “deeply regrettable” that Israel has decided to shutter the embassy. He insisted that Ireland is not opposed to the state of Israel. “I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law.”
Israel had already recalled its ambassador to Ireland in May and has taken the same action in Spain and Norway after all three countries recognized Palestine as an independent state. Ireland is apparently downplaying the embassy closure and emphasizing that Ireland and Israel would “continue to maintain diplomatic relations. Inherent in that is the right to agree and disagree on fundamental points,” Micheál Martin, said in a statement, adding, “We need an immediate cease-fire, the release of all hostages and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
At least 44,000 Palestinians are dead as a result of Israeli military action in Gaza. Israel says 17,000 of that number were combatants. Ireland said its case for intervention at the International Court is based on its desire to see the global judiciary “broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a state.”
Not all Israeli political leaders agreed with the decision to close the Dublin embassy. Yair Lapid, who heads the country’s Parliamentary opposition, said in a style="text-decoration:none">post on X: “The decision to close the Israeli embassy in Ireland is a victory for anti-Semitism and anti-Israel organizations. The way to deal with criticism is not to run away, but to stay and fight!”
