Sa’ar Orders Closure of Israel’s Embassy in Ireland the Country that Sided With Hitler

 

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday ordered the Israeli embassy in Dublin shuttered amid Ireland’s hostile stance toward the Jewish state.

Also on Sunday, Sa’ar ordered the opening of an Israeli embassy in Moldova.

Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich was already recalled last May after Ireland became one of three European countries to recognize a Palestinian state.

The Irish government last week approved a proposal to intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

On Oct. 29, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called on the European Union to “review its trade relations” with Israel, following what he described as a “shameful” vote by the Knesset on a law banning the activities in Israel of UNRWA, the United Nations aid agency for Palestinians.

Ireland has for years criticized Israel and its policies in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, but the rhetoric has escalated since Jerusalem responded to the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, that triggered a multi-front war.

In announcing the decision, Sa’ar cited the “extreme anti-Israel policy of the Irish government.”

“The antisemitic actions and rhetoric that Ireland is taking against Israel are based on delegitimization and demonization of the Jewish state and on double standards,” Sa’ar said in a statement.

“Ireland has crossed all red lines in its relationship with Israel. Israel will invest its resources in promoting bilateral relations with the countries of the world according to priorities that are also derived from the attitude of the various countries towards it,” the statement continued.

Harris condemned the “deeply regrettable” move in a post on X, saying he rejects the assertion that Dublin is anti-Israel. “Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law,” he claimed.

Moldova already has an embassy in Israel and in explaining the rationale for reciprocating in Chișinău, Sa’ar said that “there are countries that are interested in strengthening their ties with Israel and do not yet have an Israeli embassy. We will adjust the Israeli diplomatic structure of our missions while giving weight, among other things, to the approach and actions of the various countries toward Israel in the political arena.”

Sa’ar informed Moldova’s Foreign Minister Mihail Popșoi of his decision to open the embassy, which is expected to happen in 2025. Sa’ar instructed the director general of his ministry to locate a suitable building for the embassy in Moldova and to initiate the process of appointing an ambassador there.