Irish government accused by Israel’s foreign minister of ‘antisemitic rhetoric’

The Irish government has been accused by Israel’s foreign minister for “antisemitic rhetoric” and “double standards”.

Gideon Saar confirmed he ordered the closure of Israel’s Embassy in Dublin.

The Israeli government announced the closure in a statement on Sunday, saying it was because of the “extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish Government”, and accusing Ireland of “crossing every red line”.

Mr Saar blamed the “actions, double standards, and antisemitic rhetoric of the Irish government against Israel”, which he added “are rooted in efforts to delegitimise and demonise the Jewish state”.

In a statement on a social media network X, Mr Saar highlighted Ireland recognising a Palestinian state “during attacks on Israel”, and said it “attempted to redefine ‘genocide’ in international law to support baseless claims against Israel at the International Court of Justice”.

He also claimed Ireland “backed politically motivated cases at the International Criminal Court” and “promoted anti-Israel measures within the EU, and fostered hostility toward Israel”.

Mr Saar went on to claim that Ireland has “failed to take effective measures to combat the surge of antisemitism”, adding Israel will “focus its resources on strengthening bilateral relations with countries worldwide, according to priorities that also take into account the attitudes and actions of these states toward Israel”.

Responding, a spokesperson for Irish premier Simon Harris said: “The Taoiseach will not be responding to personalised and false attacks and 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.”

Earlier, the Israeli ambassador to Ireland said closing its embassy in Dublin was “the correct diplomatic decision”, and claimed there was “a hostile atmosphere” in the country.

Ambassador Dana Erlich accused Ireland of taking a more “extreme stance” than any other country.

She called Ireland “an extreme voice in the international arena” when asked about its intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Mr Harris said that Ireland will not be silenced about its views on Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

The Taoiseach accused Israel of engaging in “distraction” policies, adding that he was very proud of Ireland standing up for the Palestinian people.

Ms Erlich was recalled in May after the Palestinian state recognition.

She told RTE’s News At One on Monday: “Most countries, again, we have difficult conversations and we have disagreements. We accept criticism.

“But this has gone over that line in Ireland, the fact that there is delegitimisation of any collaboration with Israel, with the embassy, with Israelis, the incitement and hatred are not stopped by the Government but fostered sometimes.

“We will continue in contact with our allies and supporters, but the format of the embassy needs to change in light of these anti-Israeli steps, and there is no other way to call it.

“Because unfortunately, this is not about pro co-existence, pro-peace.

“The steps that we have seen are about isolating and discriminating against Israel.”

She said Israel will not end relations with Ireland and that she would remain as an ambassador working from Israel.

She said there was no timeline on when the embassy would close and said there would need to be a “change in policy” in Ireland if the embassy was to reopen.

Earlier this year, the Irish Government officially recognised the Palestinian state and, last week, it emerged that Ireland would formally intervene in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Speaking to reporters in Dun Laoghaire on Monday, Mr Harris was asked why Ireland had been targeted by the Israeli government.

“I’d respectfully suggest that possibly because it works as a distraction. You’re all here today asking about Ireland’s position. What about Israel’s actions?” Mr Harris said.

“What about what (Israeli prime minister Benjamin) Netanyahu is doing to the innocent children of Gaza? This is the diplomacy of distraction. I think it is deeply regrettable that they took that decision.

“They have every right to take that decision to close the embassy. I’d rather it didn’t happen.

“We will continue to engage, continue to engage diplomatically, but nobody is going to silence Ireland. We know right from wrong.

“We value human rights, we respect international law.

“We expect international law to be applied consistently.”

Mr Harris said he would keep the Irish embassy in Israel open.

“We will also not allow our position to be misrepresented by Israel, by the government of Israel,” he added.

“Do you know what I think is reprehensible? Killing children. I think that’s reprehensible. You know what I think is reprehensible? Seeing the scale of civilian deaths that we’ve seen in Gaza.

“You know what I think is reprehensible? About people being left to starve and humanitarian aid not flowing.”

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said there has to be consequences for Israel in relation to its ongoing war in Gaza against Hamas.

She added: “I think the position that we have taken collectively is that respect for international law, protection of human rights, calling out a genocide as you witness it, broadcast live across our television screens, has to have a robust political response, domestically and internationally.

“Unfortunately, for far too long, because this did not begin on October 7 last, the occupation, the denial of the basic rights of the Palestinian people, has gone on for generations.

“Unfortunately, the international community has looked the other way. That has to stop. There have to be consequences for Israel, consequences for the Netanyahu regime, which brazenly and repeatedly breaks every rule in the book.

“That’s the Irish position. It’s the position of the Government in Dublin.

“The pity is that Israel and Netanyahu don’t have the willingness to actually hear that message loud and clear.”

In response to the decision by the Israeli government to close its embassy, a Fine Gael councillor and mayor of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Jim O’Leary, accused the Irish Government of engaging in a “populist anti-Israeli position”.

He tweeted: “The decision to seek a reinterpretation of the (definition) of genocide and intervene in the ICJ case lacks credibility and is both reprehensible and diplomatic suicide.”

Mr Harris said the views of Mr O’Leary were not high up in his priorities.

“My priority here is continuing to shine the spotlight on what’s happening in the Middle East, and we shouldn’t allow anything to distract from what is happening,” Mr Harris added.

“Of course, people can have different views, but we should never, ever, ever allow one decision, including yesterday’s, to distract from the reality.

“I’m very proud of the position of this country. I’m very proud of the position of people right across Ireland that we are pro-human rights, we are pro-international law.”