Israel to shut embassy

ISRAEL will close its embassy in Dublin in light of "the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government", foreign minister Gideon Saar has said, accusing the country of "crossing every red line".

His statement said Israel's ambassador to Dublin has been recalled in the past following what it called Ireland's "unilateral decision to recognise a Palestinian state".

It added that the decision followed Ireland's announcement of its support for South Africa's legal action against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the country of "genocide."

Mr Saar said: "The actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the de-legitimisation and demonisation of the Jewish state, along with double standards.

"Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel.