The Government has approved the appointment of the Republic of Ireland’s first full ambassador from Palestine, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, giving effect to the decision in May for the Republic to recognise the Palestinian state.
Formal diplomatic relations between the Republic and the state of Palestine were established on September 29th of this year through an exchange of diplomatic notes.
Last month, the government of the state of Palestine formally notified the Department of Foreign Affairs of its intention to change Palestine’s representation here to a resident embassy under the Vienna Convention.
It had been represented in the Republic by the Palestinian mission, headed by Dr Wahba Abdalmajid who carried out the role of “ambassador — head of mission”.
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The upgrade in status of the Palestinian mission to that of a resident embassy means that the diplomatic mission will now enjoy the full range of privileges and immunities applicable under the Vienna Convention.
Ireland is also due to have its presence in Ramallah in the West Bank upgraded from a representative office to a full embassy.
Following recognition of the state of Palestine by Ireland, Spain and Norway in May, ambassadors from the three European countries were summoned to the Israeli foreign affairs ministry.
The diplomats were shown a previously unaired video of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7th last year in a move that was criticised sharply at the time by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.
Following recognition of the Palestinian state, Israel’s government recalled its ambassador to Dublin Dana Erlich “for consultations” and has said subsequently that she will not return until relations between the two states improve substantially.
The Israeli government has criticised Irish Government positions and statements as “unfriendly and not in the spirit of bilateral co-operation”.
The souring in diplomatic relations between the two has also been marked by a spat between President Michael D Higgins and Israel after he accused the country of distributing a letter he sent congratulating the new president of Iran following his election.
Israel also recalled its ambassador to Norway and threatened to recall its ambassador from Spain after they recognised Palestine.
The Irish Government has indicated its intention to progress legislation banning trade in goods sourced from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories — although only once it has substantially been amended as it is not in accordance with EU law, nor with the Irish Constitution, according to advice from Attorney General Rossa Fanning.
The Republic has also said it would no longer award contracts for military goods to Israeli arms companies, but the Coalition has stopped short of expelling Israel’s ambassador despite calls from the Opposition to do so, citing the importance of keeping diplomatic channels open.
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