AN Irish embassy is to be opened in Israel, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday. The Israeli ambassador, Mr Zvi Gabay, says the move is an important step" in upgrading relations between the countries.
Full diplomatic relations were established 21 years ago but it was only in January that the first Israeli embassy in Ireland was officially opened in Dublin.
Asked about Ireland's delay in opening an embassy in Israel, Mr Gabay said it was a question that should be directed to the Department.
"They're responsible for the hold up," he said. "However, we don't want to look back but forward to a future which will be beneficial to both countries. When I raised the Israeli flag at the opening of the embassy in January I said I hoped to see an Irish flag flying over an Irish embassy in Israel. I am very pleased."
The opening of the Irish embassy, which will probably be located in Tel Aviv, will bring to 46 the number of Irish missions abroad.
In a statement, the Department said the Government hopes the new embassy will contribute to a further strengthening of the close relations between Ireland and Israel. "The new embassy will also enable Ireland, together with our EU partners, to contribute more actively to the Middle East peace process, particularly during our forthcoming presidency of the European Union.
Ireland is currently represented in Israel on a non resident basis by the Ambassador in Athens. The opening of the Israeli embassy here ended a long stand off between the countries on the question of exchanging resident ambassadors. For many years Ireland was the only EU country not to have an Israeli embassy.
Previous governments were several times on the point of agreeing to the establishment of an embassy when new attacks on the Irish UN forces in south Lebanon by an Israeli backed militia soured relations.
The Government finally announced its agreement to the opening of an embassy in Dublin in December 1993 and, on the same day, invited the Palestine Liberation Organisation to open an office.
It was also announced yesterday the Government has agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Mozambique. This follows the decision to designate Mozambique a priority country for assistance under Ireland's Bilateral Aid Programme.