Ireland will not be deterred from pursuing its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the Gaza conflict after the Israeli government announced on Sunday it was closing its embassy in Dublin, the Government has said.
Confirming the decision on Sunday, the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs said: “The decision to close the Israeli embassy in Dublin was made in light of the extreme anti-Israel policy of the Irish Government.”
The move comes in the wake of diplomatic tension between the countries over Ireland’s recognition of Palestinian statehood and its participation in the South African lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ.
Responding to the news, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said there were no plans to close Ireland’s Embassy in Israel, which is “carrying out important work”.
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He said: “Ireland and Israel will continue to maintain diplomatic relations. Inherent in that is the right to agree and disagree on fundamental points.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris described the decision by Binyamin Netanyahu’s government as “deeply regrettable”.
Mr Harris added: “I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law.”
[ Why Israel is closing its embassy in Ireland and what will happen nextOpens in new window ]
Government sources said the Department of Foreign Affairs had advance notice of the announcement by Israel and was prepared for it. However, it is understood such notice was very recent, with one source saying there had been no communication before Sunday that the plans were afoot.
A source said the Government’s position would remain “consistent” and that Ireland believes in maintaining open diplomatic channels.
Sources added they were not aware exactly what the “tipping point” was for Israel’s decision but it came just days after the Cabinet agreed Ireland would support the ICJ case.
The Israeli embassy has not confirmed how soon it will shut down, but the building it leases in Ballsbridge, Dublin, could be sold after receivers were appointed in November to certain assets in an Irish real-estate fund.
The Israeli embassy did not respond to questions from The Irish Times regarding whether the closure was linked to funding cuts or rising costs.
Members of the Jewish and Israeli communities in Ireland have described the closure as a “tragic” and “distressing development”.
Ireland’s chief rabbi, Yoni Wieder, said it was “extremely disappointing” to see the breakdown of dialogue and diplomatic ties between Ireland and Israel.
“But this decision hasn’t come out of nowhere, it follows many months of Irish political leaders refusing to acknowledge the realities of a war fought against jihadist terrorist organisations intent on Israel’s destruction,” he said.
Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, said the Irish Government’s intervention at the ICJ alongside South Africa had risked “oversimplifying” a complex and tragic conflict, “unfairly isolating Israel, and undermining the integrity of the term ‘genocide’.”
He said consular services provided by the embassy are vital for those maintaining connections with family, culture and heritage in Israel.
“Losing this resource will leave many feeling unsupported and aggrieved,” he said.
Orli Degani, a Jewish woman with Israeli citizenship who was deselected as a local election candidate for the Social Democrats in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, earlier this year, said she was shocked by the announcement.
“It is such a sad day to see something like this happen,” she said. “We were working towards rebuilding relationships. It is disappointing that they felt that they had to close the embassy because of the one-sided anti-Israeli attitude of the Government.
“We have a smallish community. We need the embassy and we were hoping that after the election the new government would take a more balanced approach and do more to restore and improve relations for the benefit of the people of Ireland, Israel and Palestine – because a stronger relationship will help in working towards peace and reconciliation.”
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