The Israeli State thinks governments like Ireland don’t appreciate the “extent” of the impact of Hamas’ October 7th attack.
That’s according to Irish Times Political Correspondent Pat Leahy as Israeli officials react to the Irish Government beginning to process of recognising Palestine.
After recalling the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland on Wednesday, Israeli officials summoned Irish Ambassador Sonya McGuinness to a meeting.
Alongside the Spanish and Norwegian Ambassadors, Ms McGuinness was shown a video of five Israeli women army conscripts being taken captive by Hamas on October 7th.
The three ambassadors were made to watch the video in front of the press, which Mr Leahy called “undiplomatic”.
“There’s a lot of annoyance around it in Irish Government circles,” he told The Pat Kenny Show.
“There is a belief in Israel that countries such as Ireland don’t really appreciate the extent to which the attacks by Hamas on October 7th have affected basically everyone in Israel.
“Just the magnitude of that event for Israel.
“I guess the Irish Government position would be that doesn’t excuse the assault on Gaza and the toll on civilian lives there.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also aimed the Taoiseach and Ireland on social media.
He posted a video of men with guns mixed with footage of Irish dancing and tagged Simon Harris adding: "Hamas thanks you for your service.”
Finance Minister Michael McGrath branded the video as “particularly distasteful.”
Mr Leahy said Israel’s response was “entirely expected”.
“This was flagged as far back as March by the previous Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and has been reiterated a number of occasions since,” he said.
Israel and US react
The US has also disagreed with Ireland’s decision to formally recognise Palestine.
Former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney previously said the decision is seen in the US as a “recognition of Hamas”.
Mr Mulvaney said Ireland’s visit to the White House next March will be “very interesting” on the back of today’s announcement.
“You have to match symbolism for symbolism and right now the biggest symbol we could send you folks is cancelling those meetings,” he said.
Mr Leahy said, however, that the US “certainly disagrees” with the Irish decision but does not plan on punishing the State.
“Just as Israel was briefed in advance as to the steps it was going to take, so has the United States,” he said.
“If you look at what the White House is trying to do, [Ireland recognising Palestine] is a bit more pressure on Israel in pushing Netanyahu to a cease-fire.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin confirmed Ireland will recognise an independent Palestinian State on May 28th.
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