Ireland – Israel relations

Ireland–Israel relations are foreign relations between the Republic of Ireland and Israel.

Since January 25, 1996, the Republic has an embassy in Tel Aviv and Israel has an embassy in Dublin. The Israeli ambassador to Ireland is Boaz Modai and the Irish ambassador to Israel is Breifne O'Reilly. Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Commercial ties
The commercial relationship between Israel and Ireland goes back to the early days of Israeli statehood. In 1988, Israeli exports to Ireland were valued at $23.5 million, while Irish exports to Israel were valued at $32.8 million. By 1998, the figures were up to $196 million and $230 million respectively. Irish exports now total $344 million and Israeli exports are close to $200 million.

Israeli exports to Ireland include machinery and electronics, rubber and plastics, chemicals, textiles, optical/medical equipment, gems, and fruit and vegetables. Irish exports to Israel include machinery and electronics, chemicals, textiles, foodstuffs, beverages, and optical/medical equipment. A bilateral agreement on double taxation signed in 1995 has facilitated economic cooperation.

Tourism
According to Haaretz newspaper, Ireland was the most popular destination for Israeli holidaymakers in 2000. In 2004, a peak number of Irish nationals visited Israel to attend the Ireland-Israel World Cup qualifying match.

Tensions
Although relations between the Israel and Ireland are usually cordial, there has also been much tension.

Irish politicians have historically been sympathetic and supportive of the Palestinians, and often harshly critical of Israeli actions, sometimes comparing Israel's treatment of Palestinians to Nazi treatment of Jews. Numerous members of the Oireachtas have used strong language to condemn Israeli actions, even calling for a boycott of Israel and for the expulsion of Israeli diplomats.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1975. Prior to 1975, Ireland had refused to establish relations due to Israel's alleged violations of UN Resolutions. In 1981, however, Ireland condemned Israel's attack on Iraq's nuclear reactor. Ireland did not allow an Israeli embassy to open until December 20, 1993. Two weeks prior to that, Ireland had allowed PLO Leader Yasser Arafat to visit and open a delegation.

In 1978, the Irish Army contributed forces to Lebanon as part of UNIFIL, a UN peacekeeping force in Southern Lebanon, which was the scene of fierce fighting between Israeli forces and their proxy militias and Lebanese guerillas. From 1978 to 2000, Ireland contributed over 40,000 troops to UNIFIL, and was the country's largest military involvement outside its own borders. Tensions erupted between the two countries over alleged mistreatment of Irish forces by the Israel Defense Forces. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Irish troops regularly called in the Israelis to threaten and discipline them over their treatment of Irish peacekeepers. Irish Foreign Minister Brian Lenihan said that much of his sympathy for Israel disappeared when he saw how Irish soldiers were treated. Irish forces were a major participant in the Battle of At Tiri, where UNIFIL troops withstood an attack by the South Lebanon Army, an Israeli-backed militia, after it attempted to set up a checkpoint in At Tiri. One Irish soldier was killed in the battle. Following the 2006 Lebanon War, Ireland deployed a unit of 150 troops to protect Finnish Army engineers.

In 1978, Aer Lingus, the national airline of Ireland, secretly trained Egyptian Air Force pilots, at a time when Israel and Egypt were still in peace talks, and had yet to sign a treaty.

The Irish government has provided financial aid to numerous Non-governmental organizations highly critical of Israel, some of which even promote boycotts and sanctions on Israel. Ireland annually provides 7.5 million Euros in aid to the Palestinians, including 3.5 million for UNRWA.

In 2003, the Irish government opposed the building of Israel's security wall in the West Bank.

According to WikiLeaks, following the 2006 Lebanon War, Ireland prevented the United States from moving military equipment destined for Israel through Shannon Airport.

On 19 January 2010, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh a senior Hamas military commander was assassinated in Dubai by a team of eight suspected Mossad officers who used counterfeit European passports, including Irish passports. The Irish government responded by expelling a staff member of the Israeli Embassy in Dublin. Ireland subsequently delayed an EU-Israel agreement which would involve allowing Israel to access sensitive information on EU citizens, and demanded that Israel tighten its data protection laws.

On 5 June 2010, an Irish humanitarian aid vessel MV Rachel Corrie heading for Gaza, was intercepted and seized by the Israeli Navy. This caused political tension between Ireland and Israel.

On 25 January 2011, Ireland upgraded the Palestinian envoy in Ireland to that of a full embassy which resulted in the Irish Ambassador to Israel being summoned. Israel announced that it "regrets" the decision.