Ireland and Israel trade barbs after Israel claims Ireland is "antisemitic"

Ireland and Israel have been trading barbs this week after Israel accused Ireland of being "antisemitic" while announcing on Sunday, December 15 that it would be closing its Embassy in Dublin.

The Israeli Embassy in Dublin will be closing “in light of the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government," Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.

The Ministry said on Sunday: “It should be noted that in the past, Israel’s ambassador to Dublin was recalled following Ireland’s unilateral decision to recognize a ‘Palestinian state.’

“Last week, Ireland announced its support for South Africa's legal action against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of ‘genocide.’"

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said: “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. 

“Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel. 

“Israel will invest its resources in advancing bilateral relations with countries worldwide according to priorities that also take into account the attitudes and actions of these states toward Israel.”

Today, I have instructed the closure of Israel’s Embassy in Ireland. The actions, double standards, and antisemitic rhetoric of the Irish government against Israel are rooted in efforts to delegitimize and demonize the Jewish state.

The Irish government recognized a “Palestinian…

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) December 15, 2024

Ireland's leaders respond

Ireland’s Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin promptly responded to the news from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in separate statements on Sunday.

The Taoiseach said he was "deeply disappointed" by the Israeli government's decision to close its embassy in Dublin, adding that Ireland's foreign policy is "founded on our deep commitment to dialogue and to the peaceful resolution of disputes."

He added that "keeping channels open has never been more important so that we can better understand each other’s positions, even when we disagree."

The Taoiseach continued: "I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel.

"Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law.

"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."

This is a deeply regrettable decision from the Netanyahu government. I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-International law. https://t.co/rDga5GpT3u

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) December 15, 2024

The Tánaiste separately said that he believes "firmly in the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels of communication and regret that this decision has been taken.

"Ireland’s position on the conflict in the Middle East has always been guided by the principles of international law and the obligation on all States to adhere to international humanitarian law.

"This has been the case with regard to our response to the terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel on 7 October 2023, and to the conduct by Israel of its military operations since then.

"The continuation of the war in Gaza and the loss of innocent lives is simply unacceptable and contravenes international law. It represents the collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

"We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"Ireland and Israel will continue to maintain diplomatic relations. Inherent in that is the right to agree and disagree on fundamental points.

"There are no plans to close Ireland’s embassy in Israel, which is carrying out important work."

"Nobody is going to silence Ireland"

On Monday, the Taoiseach offered more candid remarks, telling reporters that he believed Israel was engaging in "the diplomacy of distraction."

He went on to say that while Ireland will continue to "engage" with Israel, "nobody is going to silence Ireland."

The Taoiseach said: "I believe in freedom of speech and people are entitled to articulate their views, but they're not entitled to have an alternative set of facts.

"What's happening in the Middle East, what's happening in Gaza, is extraordinarily serious.

"Ireland's position on this has been clear from day one. We want to see the release of all hostages, absolutely, we condemned the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, 100 percent, absolutely.

"But we also know that there are innocent children who are dying, who are being maimed, who are suffering in a way that I'm not sure the whole world can yet even fully comprehend until we can see and get into Gaza."

'Nobody is going to silence Ireland.'

Taoiseach Simon Harris calls Israel's decision to close its embassy here 'diplomacy of distraction.' He also reacts to the Israeli ambassador calling Ireland's position on Israel 'extreme', on @PatKennyNT this morning. pic.twitter.com/LXARx7a7Vm

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) December 16, 2024

Ireland "crossed all the red lines"

However, later on Monday, Israel's Foreign Minister doubled down on his claims that Ireland, and Taoiseach Simon Harris in particular, is "antisemitic."

"We do not have a problem with criticism, we’re even used to it," Sa'ar said on Monday, according to Israel National News.

"But there is a difference between criticism on one hand, and unilateral hostility and persecution on the other hand.

"There is a difference between criticism and antisemitism based on the delegitimization and dehumanization of Israel and double standards towards Israel as opposed to other countries.

"This is how Ireland allowed itself to behave towards Israel."

Sa'ar said that "in Ireland’s statements - Israel is always the aggressor."

He continued: "Zionism and Zionists have become derogatory words in Ireland. They called the IDF's actions war crimes. They crossed all the red lines.

"Last night, Ireland’s antisemitic Prime Minister Simon Harris said in an interview, 'Ireland is not anti-Israeli, but Ireland is absolutely anti the starvation of children. It is absolutely anti the killing of civilians.'

"Is Israel starving children? When Jewish children died of starvation in the Holocaust, Ireland was at best neutral in the war against Nazi Germany. In his victory speech at the end of World War II, Winston Churchill described how Ireland conducted an affair with Nazi Germany.

"You are going to call IDF soldiers war criminals? You are going to blame the Jewish State - that was attacked on all its fronts?"

After claiming that Israel is "working to enable humanitarian aid in Gaza," Sa'ar said: "Israel will not be a punching bag for every antisemite in the world to beat on. Israel will not continue 'business as usual' when that happens."

"Gross defamation and slander"

On Tuesday, President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins also sternly responded to Israel's claims that Ireland is "antisemitic."

Speaking at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin during a credentials ceremony for Ambassador of the State of Palestine Jilan Abdaljamid and Ambassador of Italy Nicola Faganello, President Higgins said: "I take it as a very serious business to actually brand a people because in fact they disagree with Prime Minister Netanyahu."

Higgins said Netanyahu is "in breach of so many bits of international law" and "has breached the sovereignty of three of its neighbors."

He continued: "I think to suggest that because one criticizes Prime Minister Netanyahu that one is antisemitic is such a gross defamation and slander."

President Michael D Higgins has said that to say the Irish people are anti-Semitic is a "gross defamation and slander", and it is a "very serious business" to do so simply because people disagree with the actions of the Israeli Prime Minister.
Read more: https://t.co/hXpBuN3cHp pic.twitter.com/8axNrZ6YOB

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 17, 2024

RTÉ News reported that later on Tuesday, Israel's Embassy in Dublin said criticism of Israel "can be legitimate" but that the Irish government "has gone beyond legitimate criticism."

In a statement, the Israeli Embassy said that Ireland "has promoted steps and rhetoric which attempt to delegitimise Israel."

The statement continued: "It has libelled the State of Israel by saying it has deliberately starved children and deliberately killed civilians, and it is seeking to have the legal definition of genocide redefined in a way that would be used to advance baseless charges against Israel."

The Embassy said the Irish government "has chosen to take a very binary approach to a complex conflict" and "has ignored concerns about its one-sided policy against Israel and the rise in anti-Semitism expressed over a long time."