Israel to Close Embassy in Dublin
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has announced that Israel will close its embassy in Dublin due to what he described as “the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government.” According to Saar, the Republic of Ireland’s stance has “crossed every red line.”
In a statement, Mr Saar noted that Israel’s ambassador to Ireland had previously been recalled following Ireland’s unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. He further cited Ireland’s recent backing of South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which includes accusations of genocide, as a key factor in the decision.
“The actions and anti-Semitic rhetoric employed by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimisation and demonisation of the Jewish state, alongside double standards,” Saar said. “Israel will allocate its resources to strengthening bilateral relations with countries that consider our concerns and priorities.”
Irish Response
Taoiseach Simon Harris expressed regret over Israel’s decision, rejecting the notion that Ireland is anti-Israel and reaffirming that Ireland is “pro-peace.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin confirmed that Ireland has no plans to close its embassy in Israel. He stated he had been officially informed of Israel’s move and lamented the loss of direct communication channels. Martin emphasized that Ireland’s approach to the Middle East conflict remains guided by international law and humanitarian principles.
He characterized the continuing violence in Gaza and the substantial civilian casualties as unacceptable and contrary to international law, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and significantly increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Martin stressed that Ireland and Israel will maintain diplomatic relations and that disagreements may occur in the context of open, ongoing communication.
Background
On 7 October last year, Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israel’s subsequent military operations in the Gaza Strip have aimed to eliminate Hamas. The Hamas-run health ministry reports at least 44,875 people killed and over 100,000 injured—primarily civilians—since these operations began. The United Nations deems these figures credible.
