Israel's decision highlights Irish irrelevance on international stage

TUV Carrickfergus councillor David Clarke said:

“While those who push the fantasy of an all-Ireland like to pretend that the Republic exercises real influence on the international stage, the truth, as Israel has shown, is that they can be ignored.

“Israel is the only real democracy in the Middle East and a key US ally in the region. With President Trump coming to office again in a few short weeks, there will once again be an unambiguously pro-Israeli voice in the White House. The only people who will really suffer on the international stage from this decision are in Dublin.

“Let us not forget that the Republic of Ireland has a long and unhappy history with embassies and diplomats. In 1945 de Valera expressed his condolences to the German ambassador on the death of Hitler, who was permitted to maintain a diplomatic presence in Dublin throughout the time while the rest of the world was fighting for freedom. In 1972 the British embassy in Dublin was burned out by a mob. In 1976 the British ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Christopher Ewart-Biggs, was murdered in broad daylight.

“Now the approach of Dublin has resulted in the cutting of ties between the Republic and the world's only Jewish state.”