It follows Ireland’s decision to ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to broaden its definition of genocide, accusing Israel ‘collective punishment.’
The Israeli government said on Dec. 15 that it would close its embassy in Ireland due to what it described as “extreme anti-Israel policies” of the Irish government.
The move came less than a week after Ireland
approved a request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to broaden the definition of genocide in support of a case by South Africa that accuses Israel of genocide against Palestinians.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar said the Irish government has “crossed every red line in its relations with Israel” due to its intervention in the ICJ case.
Sa’ar also cited Dublin’s earlier decision to recognize a “Palestinian state.” Ireland formally
recognized Palestine as a sovereign and independent state in May.
“The actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state, along with double standards,” Sa’ar said in a
statement.
Sa’ar said that Israel would invest its resources in advancing bilateral relations with other countries, taking into account their “attitude and actions” toward Israel.
“We will adjust Israel’s diplomatic network of missions while giving due weight, among other factors, to the positions and actions of various countries toward Israel in the diplomatic arena,” he stated.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry also announced on Dec. 15 the opening of an embassy in Moldova.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris described the decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration as “deeply regrettable.”
“I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel,” Harris said in a
statement on X. “Ireland wants a two state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security.”
“Ireland will always speak up for human rights and international law. Nothing will distract from that,” he added.
The Irish Foreign Ministry stated on Dec. 15 that Ireland would continue to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and had no intentions of closing its embassy in Israel.
“Inherent in that is the right to agree and disagree on fundamental points,” the ministry said in a
statement, adding that its embassy is carrying out important work in Israel.
South Africa has accused Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention due to its military offensive in Gaza, which was launched in response to Hamas’s large-scale attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas terrorists killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 240 hostages to use as a bargaining chip. More than 45,700 people have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to date, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Ireland said it plans to file an intervention in South Africa’s case against Israel later this month, joining a dozen
other countries, such as Bolivia, Belgium, Turkey, and Spain.
The ministry
said on Dec. 11 that it would request the ICJ to broaden its “interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a State” through the intervention. “There has been a collective punishment of the Palestinian people through the intent and impact of military actions of Israel in Gaza, leaving 44,000 dead and millions of civilians displaced,” said the ministry.
Harris
said last month that Ireland would arrest Netanyahu if he visited the country after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Warrants are also out for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, who Israel has claimed they killed in an airstrike.
