Israel has announced the closure of its embassy in Ireland. The decision was taken “against the backdrop of the extremely anti-Israeli politics of the Irish government”, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
It was pointed out that in the past, the Israeli ambassador in Dublin had been recalled after Ireland decided to recognize Palestine as a state. Moreover, Ireland recently announced its support for South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and accused Israel of “genocide”.
“Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. We will invest our resources in fostering bilateral relations with countries around the world and set priorities that take into account the attitudes and actions of these states towards Israel. We will adjust the diplomatic network of Israeli representations, considering the positions and actions of various countries towards Israel on the diplomatic stage, Sa’ar said.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris reacted with surprise to the announcement. “I strongly reject the claim that Ireland is anti-Israel” he wrote on Twitter. “Ireland stands for peace, human rights, and the rule of law.” The goal is a two-state solution, and Ireland wants Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security, Harris said.