Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has announced the closure of the country’s embassy in Ireland, citing “extreme anti-Israel policies.” The move comes after Ireland recognized Palestine as a state and expressed support for South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Sa’ar stated that Ireland’s actions are rooted in delegitimization and demonization of Israel, along with double standards. He plans to invest resources in advancing bilateral relations with countries that treat Israel favorably.
Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the move as a “victory for anti-Semitism,” while Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris described it as “deeply regrettable.” Ireland has long been supportive of the Palestinian cause, and Sa’ar accused the country of crossing every red line in its relations with Israel. The closure of the embassy marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/15/europe/israel-ireland-embassy-closure-intl/index.html