Sir, - In view of Israel's latest act of state terrorism against Lebanon, should we not now acknowledge that it was premature to open a full Israeli Embassy in Ireland? For decades Israel has been in flagrant breach of UN resolutions pertaining to its illegal occupation of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese territories, and its ongoing policy of settlement (colonisation) in some of these territories.
It is the only state in the world to have legalised torture. Its "peace process" with the Palestinians is clearly designed at best to create conditions similar to those that pertained in South Africa under Apartheid, at a time when Ireland would not have dared to entertain full diplomatic relations with South Africa (of which regime Israel was one of the most defiant supporters).
Foreign Affairs might well point out that the PLO was also invited to open an office here. Obviously the cash strapped Palestinians cannot afford such a luxury, much though it is needed to counteract the propaganda of which Ambassador Gabay is proving such a master.
Alas, I am only too well aware that the answer to this question is flying its flag only a few hundred metres from the Israeli Embassy in Ballsbridge. Still, sometimes it's nice to fantasise about diplomacy based on principle. - Yours, etc.,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.