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(Reuters) – Israel said on Sunday it would close its embassy in Dublin because of the Irish government’s “extreme anti-Israel policies”, including recognition of a Palestinian state and support for international legal action against its war in Gaza.
Israel recalled its ambassador after Ireland’s decision on a Palestinian state in May, and was further angered last week when Dublin supported South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide.
“The decision to close the Israeli embassy in Dublin was made in light of the Irish government’s extreme anti-Israel policy,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“The actions and anti-Semitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state, along with double standards. Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel,” Foreign Minister Gideon Sarr said in a statement.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the decision was deeply regrettable and that his nation would always stand up for human rights and international law.
“I completely reject the claim that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law,” he said in a post on X.
“Ireland wants a two-state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security.”
Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin said the two countries would maintain diplomatic relations and that there were no plans to close the Irish embassy in Israel.
Martin said in March that while it was up to the ICJ, also known as the World Court, to decide whether genocide had been committed, he wanted to be clear that the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and the subsequent attack on the Gaza stronghold “represents a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law on a massive scale.”
The announcement of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced the establishment of an Israeli embassy in Moldova.
