State recognition will be formalized tomorrow by Ireland, Norway and SpainMs Erlich said many Irish people sympathize with Israel 'behind the scenes'The ambassador added that she has heard from Israelis requesting to be transferred elsewhere or to return home
Speaking in Jerusalem, where she has held consultations with the Foreign Office after being recalled in protest, Dana Erlich said she hopes to return to Ireland, although she felt Prime Minister Simon Harris' government was siding with the Palestinians chose against Israel.
State recognition will be formalized tomorrow in collaboration with Spain and Norway. The United States and some other European countries are in favor of first resuming negotiations for a solution to the conflict.
The move by Ireland, Spain and Norway was labeled a “reward for terrorism” by Israel, which is waging a devastating war in Gaza with ongoing fighting on other fronts in response to the October 7 cross-border rampage by Hamas.
Ireland recognizes the state of Palestine
Ms Erlich said all aspects of Israeli-Irish ties were under review but did not predict any further action from her government, which has continued to spar with Madrid.
“Ireland is not neutral or an honest broker in this matter because they are very supportive of the Palestinians. But what we are saying (is): this is not the time for such an announcement about recognition,” said Ms. Erlich.
The Irish government says recognition of the Palestinian state could benefit Israel by reviving stalled peace negotiations.
Ms Erlich said many Irish people sympathize with Israel 'behind the scenes'. She added: “I think there is a lot of potential in our bilateral relations, whether it is cybersecurity or healthcare, climate change. I hope I get the chance to continue that.”
But she said the public atmosphere of hostility is causing Israelis to question their place in Ireland – a threat to the engineering services that account for the lion's share of around €5 billion in annual trade between the countries.
“We are receiving more and more calls and hearing conversations from concerned people – if they are Israelis investing in Ireland and concerned about their investment, if they are Israelis who have moved to Ireland to various technology companies and are applying to be relocated elsewhere move differently or ask to return to Israel,” Ms. Erlich said.
Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli attack that left displaced people in Rafah, southern Gaza. Health workers said at least 35 people were killed in the area. Photo: AP
“I think this sends the wrong message about Ireland's location and centrality as a technology hub, with more and more people concerned about moving to Ireland. I don't think this is the message Ireland wants to send to the world and it is not what we want to see.”
The business relationship has already been hit by the decision announced on February 5 by Israeli national airline El Al not to renew direct flights to Dublin launched last year, citing changes in customer demands since the Gaza war.
The Irish government has rejected calls from pro-Palestinian activists to impose sanctions or an economic boycott against Israel.
But on April 5, Ireland said its €15 billion sovereign wealth fund would divest from six Israeli companies, including some of its biggest banks, over their activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Gaza war broke out a month after Ms Erlich arrived in Dublin, putting her in 24/7 crisis management.
“There are a lot of similarities between Ireland and Israel that I'd like to learn more about – whether it's the revival of an ancient language, whether it's the diaspora, or the different landscape options,” she said.
“And I hope I get the chance to explore Ireland further. But now we need to address our concerns.”