Cavan woman at centre of Ireland-Israel row

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has defended Cavan woman, Ambassador Sonya McGuinness, after she was summoned to the Israeli foreign affairs ministry and reprimanded over Ireland's recognition of the State of Palestine.

A native of Maghera, Ms McGuinness is the Irish Ambassador for both Israel and Turkey.

After being subjected to a robust telling off by the Tel Aviv government in the wake of last week's historic announcement alongside Spain and Norway, Ms McGuinness was shown an unaired video of Hamas taking female army conscripts captive on October 7 last year.

Members of the media were also present, and the Tánaiste backed Ms McGuinness by describing the handling of the situation as “totally unacceptable”.

Stating that he would discuss the issue with Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister, Israel Katz, in future, Minister Martin said: “I find that totally unacceptable and no way to treat diplomats, and is outside the norm by which diplomats are treated in any country.”

He also stated that Ms McGuinness was an “outstanding ambassador” and that Ireland had consistently condemned the Hamas attack.

While the Irish government anticipated Ms McGuinness would be called to the foreign ministry, he said the showing of footage in front of Israeli national media, along with the Spanish and Norwegian ambassadors, was treatment not “witnessed before in other countries or jurisdictions”.

On Wednesday last week Ireland formally announced its recognition of the state of Palestine in a joint move with Norway and Spain.

Israel responded by warning that there would be “severe consequences”, with Katz in particular claiming that Ireland and its Taoiseach, Simon Harris, had “rewarded terrorism”.