Israel has closed down its embassy in Ireland in response to what it called “the extreme anti-Israel policy of the Irish Government”.
The move came a week after Dublin formally joined South Africa’s case at International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide, asking that the definition of the term be broadened to help prosecute Israeli leaders.
It also follows Ireland recognised a Palestinian state earlier this year and and declaring that it would arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, following an International Criminal Court war crimes arrest warrant.
On Sunday, Israel said it would withdraw its ambassador and close its embassy – thought to be the first such move in a significant Western country.
Gideon Sa’ar, the Israeli foreign minister, said: “The actions and anti-Semitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are based on delegitimisation and demonisation of the Jewish state, and double standards. Ireland crossed all the red lines in its relationship with Israel.”
He said Israel would invest its resources in building ties with other countries, ordering the opening of a new Israeli embassy in Moldova. Ireland’s prime ministers said the move to close the Dublin embassy was “regrettable”.
Last week, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it had asked for a revision of the definition of genocide after over Hamas claims that more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Oct 7 attacks sparked the ongoing Gaza war.
Israel says at least 17,000 of those killed are militants, with a recent report by the Right-leaning Henry Jackson Society also casting doubt on the numbers provided by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza.
“By legally intervening in South Africa’s case, Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide,” Ireland’s statement said. “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 minimised.”
Simon Harris, Ireland’s Taoiseach, said on Sunday: “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.”
Mr Netanyahu has rejected the idea of a two-state solution.
In May, Ireland formally recognised a Palestinian state as “a sovereign and independent state” alongside Spain and Norway in a symbolic move amid the war in Gaza, with the borders to be demarcated as they were prior to 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine.
At the time, Ireland said it would upgrade its representative office in the West Bank to a full embassy, and the Palestinian mission in Ireland would also be offered full embassy status.
In a statement following Israel’s announcement Sunday, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it would not reciprocate by closing its embassy in Israel, which it said was “carrying out important work”.
“Ireland and Israel will continue to maintain diplomatic relations. Inherent in that is the right to agree and disagree on fundamental points,” the statement said, adding that Israel’s actions in Gaza after Oct 7 “represents the collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza”.
Ireland has long had an affinity with the Palestinian cause, likening the resistance to the Irish breakaway from Great Britain. Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader, made regular trips to Ireland to work with Irish politicians, also hosting them in Gaza.
The country has long held a policy of neutrality, and in 1945 Eamon da Valera offered Germany condolences on the death of Hitler.
