State Papers: Ireland's consul in Israel had to be reminded Gaza was outside his jurisdiction

Records show the official was told he should not be promoting Irish business interests in the Palestinian territory, writes Seán McCárthaigh

An official in the Israeli embassy to Ireland (which was based in London at the time) had called to the Department of Foreign Affairs to question the concept of the Irish battalion serving with Unifil in Lebanon to peacekeeping. Picture: Maher Attar/Sygma via Getty Images

Ireland's honorary consul in Israel had to be reminded in 1993 by officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Gaza Strip was outside his jurisdiction and that he should not be promoting Irish business interests in the Palestinian territory.

Newly released State files by the National Archives show the consul, Zvi Levy, was praised for his “commendable” work in encouraging and promoting trade links between Ireland and Israel since his appointment.