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.

In a letter dated December 23, 1993, an official told Mr Levy that the Department of Foreign Affairs was very conscious of the contribution he was making and was grateful for his “considerable efforts”. However, the official said he was obliged to draw the consul’s attention to “the territorial limits of your jurisdiction”. 

Mr Levy was reminded that his “area of activity” was confined to the territory within Israel’s internationally recognised frontiers and did not extend to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.

[reamdore]41766431;41766467;41766353[/reamdore]

The consul was advised to direct anyone seeking consular, commercial, or other assistance that could involve him in the Gaza Strip to the Irish embassy in Cairo “in the first instance”. The official acknowledged that in some instances such advice “may not appear to be helpful to enquirers”. 

Another official had recorded his concerns that Mr Levy “might be active commercially or otherwise in Gaza in a way which could give the impression that he had an official role there”. He noted that the Irish ambassador to Egypt shared the same concern.

The official pointed out that he had been informed by an executive with an Irish company, Bowen, that Mr Levy had met him in Gaza and had personally introduced him to the Mayor of Deir el Balah.

He also observed that the consul must have been aware of the concern of Irish officials as he had told them that the previous occasion he had been in Gaza had been 20 years earlier as a member of the Israeli Defence Forces.

Files show that Mr Levy, during a visit to Ireland in May 1993, had told staff at the Department of Foreign Affairs that the prospect of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a result of Middle East peace negotiations at the time could create “an enormous potential opportunity” for Irish businesses.

Other files highlight the debates and preparations that took place before Israel’s embassy in Ireland was finally opened in January 1996.

Among the reasons for the delay were concerns that there could be a “backlash” from Arab countries in terms of trade with Ireland, which dwarfed Ireland’s trading links with Israel.

Officials had fears that the establishment of an embassy in Dublin by Israel could endanger important export markets in the Middle East with similar concern also about a proposed State visit by President Mary Robinson to Israel.

Belfast-born former president of Israel Chaim Herzog had paid a State visit to Ireland in 1985 and some consideration was being given to a return visit by Ms Robinson before Herzog’s term
finished in 1993.

In March 1992, the secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Noel Dorr, said his preliminary reaction to the suggestion of a State visit by the president was that it “would not be desirable” given the situation at the time in the Middle East.

Embassy in Dublin

In addition, “security implications” were cited as a “major consideration in the government’s decision-making process” about the establishment of a resident Israeli embassy in Dublin.

The finance minister, Bertie Ahern, said he would not accept the argument that the provision of appropriate security to the embassy could not be considered “an insurmountable problem”. On the contrary, Mr Ahern said in a draft memo to the government in September 1992 that security would cost some IR£700,000 (€888,000) per annum and require 26 gardaí.

In light of such cost implications, Mr Ahern said he must oppose the proposal given the very serious emerging position about public expenditure at the time.

He also believed the opening of an Israeli embassy would inevitably lead to pressure on the government to open an Irish mission in Israel “with the attendant costs”. The industry and commerce minister, Dessie O’Malley, also voiced his opposition to the opening of an Israeli embassy, claiming there were “compelling trade and economic arguments” for not opening it.

A senior official in the Department of Defence also reminded the Department of Foreign Affairs that Irish soldiers in south Lebanon were continuing to be subjected to harassment by the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army.

The official also pointed out that Israel was refusing to provide any satisfactory response to protest and requests for explanations about the fatal shooting of an Irish soldier, Corporal Michael McCarthy, in November 1991.

He claimed the frequency with which concerns about Irish troops in Lebanon were occurring raised the question of whether it was appropriate to permit the establishment of an Israeli embassy in Ireland “until there is a cessation of the harassment”. The Department of Foreign Affairs was advised that the Israeli authorities should be notified that resolution of the issue was a necessary precondition to meeting their request for the establishment of a resident embassy in Dublin.

Another note recorded how 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.

The diplomat, Ilan Baruch, claimed that Hezbollah considered the area overseen by the Irish battalion as the best in which to operate.

Mr Baruch pointed out that it was not because of any unwillingness by Irish soldiers to act but because their concept was to police areas rather than for the battalion to “immerse itself” in and to enter into “harmony with the local situation”. He also complained that the Irish troops were “tough and negative unlike other battalions” who had greater dialogue and coordination with the IDF and SLA.

Similarly in March 1992, the Israeli ambassador, Yoav Biran, expressed concern to the foreign affairs minister, David Andrews, that the situation in the area overseen by Irish troops in Lebanon was “disquieting” as it was being used by Hezbollah to stage attacks against Israel.

Mr Andrews replied that he could not accept any implication that the Irish battalion was in some way tolerant of Hezbollah.