Israeli Embassy in Dublin slates Government decision to recognise State of Palestine
In a statement on Wednesday morning in the hours after Taoiseach Simon Harris announced that Ireland would officially recognise the State of Palestine from May 28, the Israeli Embassy questioned "how will this help the people of Gaza under Hamas
The Irish Government is "damaging bilateral relations" with Israel by its decision to recognise the State of Palestine, the Israeli Embassy in Dublin has warned.
In a statement on Wednesday morning in the hours after Taoiseach Simon Harris announced that Ireland would officially recognise the State of Palestine from May 28, the Israeli Embassy questioned "how will this help the people of Gaza under Hamas’s rule".
Shortly before the announcement, the Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced that he was recalling the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich.
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It is now widely expected that Ireland’s Ambassador to Israel Sonya McGuinness will be called in for reprimand.
In a statement, the Israeli Embassy in Dublin said that it was "disappointed" with the Irish Government’s decision and "jeopardises any hope of Hamas" releasing hostages.
"We are disappointed by the Irish government’s decision on recognition, which follows worrying initiatives and statements in recent months," a spokesperson said.
"This decision brings more questions than answers, especially regarding its timing, after Hamas committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
"In the wake of the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th which saw the indiscriminate mass murder of 1200 people and the kidnapping, rape and torture of hundreds more, a step such as this sends a message to Palestinians and the world: Terrorism pays.
"This act jeopardises any hope of Hamas releasing any of the 128 women, children and men kidnapped and held captive by them.
"Unilateral gestures such as this will do nothing for either Palestinians or Israelis. We can only resolve our differences through bilateral negotiation. Just as in Ireland’s case, political steps cannot be imposed.
"Recognition raises many questions, such as what is meant by ‘Palestine’. What does it mean for Gaza since Hamas, who control it are bitter rivals of the Palestinian Authority. How will this help the people of Gaza under Hamas’s rule? Most importantly, one must question the timing of this announcement in the midst of a war that Hamas launched.
"Israel sees this step as undermining its sovereignty and security and as damaging to our bilateral relations.
"Foreign Minister Katz has recalled the Ambassador temporarily for consultations."
At Government Buildings in Dublin, Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party Eamon Ryan all condemned the actions of Hamas and the strike on Israel on October 7.
Mr Harris also said that "Hamas is not the Palestinian people."
Minister Ryan, meanwhile, insisted that the recognition of Palestine was "not an endorsement of Hamas".
"We have learned the hard way that violence against innocent civilians to try and achieve political aims can and must never win," he said.
"Whether that be a car bomb on the streets of Omagh or Jerusalem, be that a rocket landing in Tel Aviv or a no warning blast in a Birmingham pub.
"Be that assault on a kibbutz or a bomb dropped from a jet fighter onto a refugee camp or a Gaza hospital. It is all wrong."
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald welcomed the recognition of Palestine by the Irish Government but called for it to "hold the Israeli regime accountable for its war crimes".
"The recognition of Palestinian Statehood by Ireland must be the first step in the government playing a leading international role in assisting the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State," she said.
"The government must follow today's announcement by utilising every tool at their disposal to hold Israel to account and to demand full adherence to international law."
Rural Independent TD Mattie McGrath, meanwhile, accused the Government of "prioritising the Middle East over Middle Ireland".
He said: "Recognising a territory controlled by Hamas raises questions. This decision seems less about integrity or belief and more about diverting attention from the real issues facing our people. It’s disheartening and self-serving. As a neutral country, Ireland’s alignment with a terrorist organisation backed by Iran is questionable. Our focus should be on fostering peace and a full ceasefire through direct negotiation in the Middle East."
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