Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar has intensified tensions with the Republic of Ireland by labeling Taoiseach Simon Harris , the Irish prime minister as ‘antisemitic’ after Israel’s decision to close its embassy in Dublin
The accusation stems from Ireland’s support for legal actions against Israel at the International Criminal Court , ICJ.
Based on Irish broadcaster RTÉ, Gideon Saar took issue with Harris, referencing his recent interview in which he said, “Ireland is not anti-Israel but Ireland is absolutely anti the starvation of children.” Saar raised the question, “Is Israel starving children?” and highlighted that Israel is making efforts to guarantee that humanitarian aid gets to Gaza.
A spokesperson for Harris responded, saying that the Taoiseach “will not be responding to personalised and false attacks.” They added that Harris “remains focused on the horrific war crimes being perpetrated in Gaza, standing up for human rights and international law and reflecting the views of so many people across Ireland who are so concerned at the loss of innocent, civilian lives.”
In an interview with RTÉ, Israel’s ambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich, described the embassy closure as a “tough decision” but justified it by saying that “Ireland has taken a more extreme stance than any other country” against Israel. She criticized Ireland’s support for South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the ICJ, calling it “an abuse of the international multilateral system.”
Erlich added that Ireland has “positioned itself in an extreme position that no other country has put itself” and lamented the breakdown in diplomatic dialogue, stating, “In most countries we have difficult conversations and we have disagreements – we accept criticism, but this has gone over that line in Ireland.”
Harris, however, rejected the notion that Ireland is anti-Israel, maintaining that Ireland’s stance on human rights and international law remains firm, regardless of Israel’s actions. “I’m very proud of the decision Ireland has taken, we are pro human rights and international law,” Harris said.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald expressed support for Ireland’s position, calling on the government to “hold firm” in its stance toward Israel and Gaza. She described Israel’s embassy closure as an attempt to test Ireland’s resolve and emphasized the need to “work with others to bring as much pressure as possible on the [Benjamin] Netanyahu regime.”
The chairperson of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, Maurice Cohen, expressed “deep concern” over the deterioration of relations between Ireland and Israel.
He said the embassy closure was not only a symbolic blow but also a practical disadvantage for the Jewish community, as “Consular services provided by the embassy are vital for those maintaining connections with family, culture, and heritage in Israel.” He warned that the closure could “alienate a significant segment of Irish society and sends a message that dialogue is being replaced by disengagement.”
Daniel Epstein-O’Dowd of the Ireland Israel Alliance described the embassy closure as a “predictable” move, reflecting the breakdown in relations since the October 7 Hamas attacks. He noted that many Israelis in Dublin felt “stranded and isolated” and that the embassy had been a crucial resource, particularly in the aftermath of the attack.
Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin confirmed there were no plans to close Ireland’s embassy in Israel, despite the ongoing tensions.
The escalating violence in Gaza has led to significant casualties, with at least 44,875 reported dead and over 100,000 injured, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures the UN has confirmed as reliable.
Reported by BBC
