Israel said Sunday it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorated over the war in Gaza, a decision made in response to what Israel's foreign minister has described as Ireland's "extreme anti-Israel policies." In May, Israel recalled its ambassador to Dublin after Ireland announced, along with Norway, Spain, and Slovenia, it would recognize a Palestinian state. The Irish cabinet last week decided to formally intervene in South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, the AP reports. Israel denies the charge.
"We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimized," Michael Martin, Ireland's deputy premier and foreign affairs minister, said in a statement. Ahead of Israel's announcement, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called the embassy decision "deeply regrettable." He added on X: "I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law." Relations between Ireland and Israel have long been strained, the Guardian points out, with Ireland expressing more pro-Palestinian positions than other European nations. "Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's statement on the embassy said.
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