News - Middle East: Israel says it will close its embassy in Dublin, blaming the Irish government for “extreme anti-Israel policy.”

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar said in a statement on Sunday that "the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government" were the reason behind the decision.

"Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel,” he added.

He noted that Israel has previously recalled its ambassador to Dublin following what it called Ireland's "unilateral decision to recognize a Palestinian state."

Last week, Ireland officially joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Sa'ar further said Israel will instead adjust its “diplomatic network of missions" to promote bilateral relations with the countries of the world that want to do the same with Israel but do not yet have an embassy.

He added that Israel will open an embassy in Moldova in the next year and has initiated the process of finding a suitable site and appointing an ambassador.

Israel’s decision ‘deeply regrettable’, Ireland is pro-peace: PM

In a post on X on Sunday, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the Israeli decision to close its Dublin embassy was "deeply regrettable."

"I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-International law," he wrote.

He added that his country “will always speak up for human rights and international law. Nothing will distract from that."

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