Israel warns Ireland of 'severe consequences' after Palestine move

State-owned broadcaster KAN reported that Israel intends to isolate and "boycott" diplomats from countries that recognise a Palestinian state.

Making the historic announcement yesterday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said recognising the state of Palestine is the "right thing" to do as the people of Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel deserve "a future filled with hope, a future defined by success instead of suffering. A future of peace."

Mr Harris said Ireland was sending a message to those in Palestine who advocate and work for a future of peace and democracy.

"We fully respect your aspirations to be living freely, in control of your own affairs and under your own leadership," he said.

However, Israel immediately described the joint move by Ireland, Spain and Norway as a prize for terrorism and recalled its Ambassador to Ireland Dana Elrich.

Irish Ambassador Sonya McGuinness, as well as her Spanish and Norwegian counterparts, have also been summoned to the Israeli foreign ministry, with Minister Israel Katz warning: “Israel will not remain silent — there will be further severe consequences."

Irish officials had flagged the plans with Israeli counterparts ahead of the announcement. It is understood that Israel had called on Ireland to only recognise Palestine after Hamas released hostages still detained in Gaza, however, it was made clear that there would be no conditionality attached to the move.

Senior government sources said that this suggestion was never considered as "we have always been unequivocal that hostages need to be released".

Ireland also flagged its plans with the United States, but sources said that the reaction had been "fairly neutral" from Washington.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson yesterday said that President Joe Biden is a "strong supporter" of a two-state solution, but added that a Palestinian state “should be realised through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition".

The formal announcement will see Ireland recognise the 1967 borders of Israel and Palestine, but sources stressed that the Government here does not recognise Hamas as a government and again described the group as a terrorist organisation.

Reflecting the same language used by Ireland in 1919 when this country sought international recognition, Mr Harris said the Government is formally recognising Palestine "because we believe in freedom and justice as the fundamental principles of international law, and because we believe that permanent peace’ can only be secured upon the basis of the free will of a free people."

During a phone call with the Taoiseach last night, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the move as a beacon of hope to the Palestinian people.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who had been working with like-minded countries on the move since late last year, said the Government had hoped to recognise Palestine as part of a two-state peace deal but instead decided to press ahead with the announcement "to keep the hope of that two-state solution alive".

Mr Martin is set to discuss an Arab Peace Vision with 40 Arab and European leaders at an event in Brussels on Sunday, where he is also expected to have further contact with other countries that may also move to recognise Palestine in the coming weeks and months.

"We also emphasise that today’s announcement does not in any way diminish our recognition of Israel’s right to exist. Instead, it should represent a first step towards the establishment of a two-state solution, which represents both Israel and Palestine’s best hope for a peaceful future," the Tánaiste said.