Envoy to Ireland, recalled amid Palestinian state row, warns tech industry may suffer
Israeli workers looking to relocate from emerald isle as Dublin recognizes Palestinian state, putting possible dent in countries’ robust IT trade relations, says Dana Erlich
Israel’s ambassador to Dublin warned on Monday that a crisis in bilateral ties over Ireland’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state sends the wrong message about Ireland as a tech hub and is worrying Israeli investors in the Irish IT services sector.
Speaking in Jerusalem, where she has held Foreign Ministry consultations after being recalled from Dublin in protest, Ambassador Dana Erlich voiced hope of returning to Ireland, though she saw its government as siding with the Palestinians against Israel.
The statehood recognition, which Ireland announced last Wednesday in conjunction with Spain and Norway, is due to be formalized on Tuesday. The United States and some other European countries favor reviving negotiations on resolving the conflict before recognizing a Palestinian state.
The move by Ireland, Spain and Norway was denounced as a “reward for terrorism” by Israel, which is waging a devastating war in the Gaza Strip, sparked by Hamas’s shock October 7 assault, when thousands of terrorists stormed into southern Israel to kill nearly 1,200 people and take 252 hostages amid rampant atrocities.
Erlich said all aspects of Israeli-Irish ties were under review but stopped short of predicting further action by her government, which has been sparring with Madrid.
“Ireland is not neutral or an honest broker in this case, because they are very supportive of the Palestinians. But what we are saying [is]: This is not the time for such announcement on recognition,” Erlich told Reuters in an interview.
The Irish government says that recognition of Palestinian statehood may benefit Israel by reviving stalled peacemaking.
But many Irish sympathize with Israel “behind the scenes,” Erlich claimed.
“I think there is a lot of potential in our bilateral relations, if it’s cybersecurity or health care, climate change,” said the ambassador, adding: “I hope to be given that opportunity to continue that.”
But she said a public mood of hostility, which some Jews deem antisemitic, is making Israelis question their place in Ireland, threatening the tech services that account for the lion’s share of some $5 billion in annual trade between the countries.
Always appreciate visiting Leinster House pic.twitter.com/1O3npkrUsm
— Dana Erlich ???????? (@DanaErlich) May 21, 2024
“We are getting more and more phone calls and conversations of concerned people — if it’s Israelis who invest in Ireland and are concerned about their investment, if it’s Israelis who have relocated to Ireland into different tech companies, and either are requesting to be relocated somewhere else or asking to return to Israel,” Erlich said.
“I think it sends the wrong message about the location and the centrality of Ireland as a tech hub when there are more and more people who are concerned about moving to Ireland. I don’t think that this is the message that Ireland wants to send to the world… And this is not what we want to see.”
The business connection has already been hit by the decision announced on February 5 by Israel’s national carrier, El Al, not to renew direct flights to Dublin that had been launched in 2023, citing changes in demand since the Gaza war.
The Irish government has rejected calls by anti-Israel activists to impose sanctions or an economic boycott on Israel amid the war.
But on April 5, Ireland said its 15 billion euro sovereign investment fund would divest from six Israeli companies, including some of its largest banks, over their activities in Palestinian-claimed territories controlled by Israel.
The Gaza war broke out a month after Erlich arrived in Dublin, plunging her into round-the-clock crisis management and outreach efforts.
“There are many similarities between Ireland and Israel that I’m curious to learn more about — if it’s a reviving of an ancient language, if it’s the diaspora, if it’s the different scenic options,” she said.
“And I hope to be given that opportunity to continue exploring Ireland. But right now, we need to address our concerns.”
