Ireland

Israel considers shutting embassy in Dublin

Israel opened its embassy in Dublin in 1996
Israel opened its embassy in Dublin in 1996 Israel opened its embassy in Dublin in 1996

ISRAEL is considering shutting down its embassy in Ireland in an effort to cut costs.

It has been reported that the Dublin embassy is on a list of seven which could be closed.

Israel opened the embassy in Ballsbridge in 1996, ending a stand-off that for years meant Ireland was the only EU country without an Israeli presence.

The Republic's government was understood to have been close to agreeing to the setting up of an Israeli mission before attacks on Irish UN forces in south Lebanon by an Israeli-backed militia were said to have soured relations.

This month, the Israeli foreign ministry announced that following budget negotiations it planned to close seven diplomatic missions over the next three years.

Ireland is the only mission in western Europe that is earmarked for potential closure. The others include Belarus, the Dominican Republic and Eritrea.

A committee is due to submit recommendations by the end of January and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will then sign off on any closures.

"Only after the prime minister's approval will we know which missions might be affected," said a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Dublin.

In 2014, thousands of people marched through Dublin city centre to the Israeli embassy during a demonstration in support of people in Gaza.

An estimated 10,000 protestors took part, with speakers including Derry activist Eamonn McCann.