Ireland
Closure of the Israeli embassy in Dublin: good riddance!
Tuesday 24 December 2024, by Awena Connolly
“Ireland’s anti-Semitic actions and rhetoric against Israel are rooted in the delegitimisation and demonisation of the Jewish state, and in double standards.” This is how Gideon Sa’ar, the Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced the closure of the Israeli embassy in Dublin on 15 December, 2024.
This announcement follows on directly from the decision taken a few days earlier by the Irish government to intervene in the complaint lodged by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice. The Israeli minister justified his decision on the grounds that the Irish government was pursuing an ‘anti-Israel’ policy. For its part, the Irish government explained that it wants to influence the proceedings before the International Court of Justice so that it considers that Israel’s actions in Gaza since October 2023 constitute genocide.
Pressure from the solidarity movement
Let’s be clear: the Dublin government’s participation in the proceedings initiated by South Africa was not only belated, it was above all due to the pressure exerted for months by the powerful solidarity movement with Palestine in Ireland. The closure of the Israeli embassy represents a major victory for the movement, which had long been calling for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Ireland. Activists for the Palestinian cause in Ireland explain it well: although the Irish government has indeed taken a stand in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza, is taking part in the complaint before the International Court of Justice and has officially recognised the state of Palestine, this is only symbolic.
Israel is closing its embassy in Dublin while Ireland has not taken any concrete action against it. Meanwhile, Irish airports continue to be used to transport military equipment to the Israeli armed forces, under the complacent gaze of the government, the Irish Central Bank continues to finance genocide and Ireland continues to be one of Israel’s biggest economic partners.
Economic relations with Israeli settlements
Not forgetting the issue surrounding the proposed Occupied Territories Bill, which would make all economic relations with Israeli settlements on the West Bank illegal. Discussed in the Irish Parliament since 2018, it is regularly blocked by the two main parties in government. The fact that this bill could finally be adopted in the near future as a result of developments in Palestine is probably not unrelated to Israel’s decision to close its embassy, as an additional means of pressure on the components of the Irish government.
The fact remains that the closure of the Israeli embassy in Dublin is a victory that strengthens the solidarity movement with Palestine in Ireland, and as the activists on the ground are saying: good riddance!
19 December 2024
Translated by International Viewpoint from l’Anticapitaliste.
International Viewpoint is published under the responsibility of the Bureau of the Fourth International. Signed articles do not necessarily reflect editorial policy. Articles can be reprinted with acknowledgement, and a live link if possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment