Dáil votes not to expel Israeli Ambassador to Ireland

By News Editor Cormac McCarthy

On Tuesday, the Dáil voted against two motions presented by the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin that sought to expel the Israeli ambassador and refer Israel to the International Criminal Court. The government parties Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party, collectively voted against both motions. 

The Social Democrats' motion, aimed to revoke all diplomatic credentials of Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich. Additionally, it called for Ireland to exert pressure at the Brussels level to suspend the EU-Israel trade deal, using a human rights clause, and to suspend Israel from participating in the Horizon Europe research funding initiative.

Sinn Féin's motion, which, if passed, would have seen the Irish governments referral of Israel to the ICC over actions in Gaza. The motion, which was defeated, specifically highlighted the ongoing conflict, seeking accountability for alleged war crimes. The debate in the Dáil highlighted that the International Criminal Court had initiated proceedings against Israel in 2019 for purported war crimes during the 2014 Gaza conflict.

Government TDs proposed a countermotion, asserting Ireland's commitment to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. This alternative motion expressed the intention to pursue avenues at the European Union and the United Nations to build an international alliance for peace.

There was almost unanimous disappointment from opposition TDs. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns expressed disappointment on Twitter, saying, “the slaughter of innocent civilians in Gaza will not end without international pressure,” criticizing the government's decision despite what she described as overwhelming public support.

In October, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had indicated that there were no plans to expel the Israeli ambassador, drawing a parallel with the decision not to expel the Russian ambassador after the invasion of Ukraine.

The government's approved amendment, passed with 85 votes in favour and 55 against, emphasized advocacy for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the release of hostages, and support for the International Criminal Court's independence.

Outside the Dáil, thousands of people staged a protest in support of the motion with demonstrators calling for the expulsion of Ambassador Erlich. Large Palestinian flags and chants of “Free Palestine” resonated, reflecting the intensity of public sentiment on the matter.

Despite the defeat of the motions, the issue remains contentious, and public activism continues. Both Cork and Dublin city held marches on Saturday the 18th, making it the fifth consecutive weekend, with the largest crowds seen yet in Limerick city centre. There were collective demands for stronger sanctions against Israel, echoing the motions held by opposition parties. Speakers at both events highlighted the climbing death toll which surpassed 11,000 on Friday. 

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin had been in Egypt on Wednesday and travelled to Israel on Friday the 17th to visit a home that had been bombed in Hamas. Despite criticism from the opposition, the government maintained that the purpose of the visit was diplomatic matter to ensure the safety and welfare of Irish citizens in Israel.

Israeli foreign minister, when meeting with the Tánaiste had attempted to ensure that Ireland would be unequivocal in its support for Israel. 

In response, Martin stated that he was “here to see this firsthand and to listen; to seek to understand the trauma that your community has gone through and not just in horrific events over the seventh but as you said for over two decades, if not three decades, in terms of rockets.”

He went on to say that “Ireland is unequivocal in its condemnation of the Hamas attack and will give no quarter to that form of terrorism. We are explicit in our public statements in condemning without condition the unconscionable attacks on children, on women and on innocent civilians.”

Martin emphasised that Ireland’s support for a two-state solution should not be equated with support for Hamas and affirmed Israel’s right to exist.