‘Falling out’ with Israel over the safety of Irish soldiers in Lebanon

Newly released files show tensions flared between the Irish government and Israel over the safety of Irish troops serving in Lebanon on peacekeeping duty.

At a meeting between foreign affairs minister Gerry Collins and the Israeli ambassador A Argov in May 1982, the minister said one “fact” for the “falling out” of Ireland and Israel was Israeli support for Maj Saad Haddad in South Lebanon.

Haddad’s forces had been involved in incidents which had led to the deaths of Irish peacekeepers in previous years.