Ireland upgrades status of Palestinian mission to embassy

[Scurrilous]

Palestinian delegation in Ireland will be upgraded to an official embassy, following France and Spain; U.K., Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Germany and Denmark expected to follow.

<snip>

"The Irish government announced on Tuesday the decision to upgrade the Palestinian diplomatic status in the country to the status of an official embassy, joining a growing list of European countries that have made the same diplomatic move, including France and Spain.

Last month the Foreign Ministry ordered every Israeli envoy abroad to begin "urgent" diplomatic activity after reports reached Jerusalem that the Palestinian Authority was trying to persuade about a dozen European Union member states to upgrade the PA's diplomatic status.

The Israeli assessment is that Britain, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Malta, Luxembourg, Austria and perhaps other states are considering a similar move.

In response to the announcement, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Israel expressed regret over Ireland's decision, adding that "we are not surprised by this move in light of the Ireland's longstanding slanted policy with regards to the Israel-Palestinian conflict."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/ireland-upgrades-status-of-palestinian-mission-to-embassy-1.339170

[hayu_lol]

1. Well, it has only been upgraded to a 'Mission,' not an...

embassy. Norway has allowed an Embassy.

What would be the diplomatic status of boxes and bales(maybe weapons/explosives)entering Israeli airports under diplomatic status? Anyone know?

Don't know if a mission qualifies for 'diplomatic pouches' or not.

In theory at least, diplomatic cargo is not checked for content anywhere...and this would have to be trucked from Israel to Gaza/WB. Ireland frequently backs the wrong party: WWII and it's support for the Nazis.

[peacetalksforall]

2. The wording above says - TO an Embassy -

" ...the decision to upgrade the Palestinian diplomatic status in the country to the status of an official embassy..."

[shaayecanaan]

4. boxes and bales...

"What would be the diplomatic status of boxes and bales(maybe weapons/explosives)entering Israeli airports under diplomatic status?"

The same as anywhere. If they think it contains something bad, they can either request that the sending party open it in their presence or send it back.

[azurnoir]

3. Interesting Israeli papers Haaretz, JPost, Ynet and the US JTA

all make this claim yet AFP,Yahoo, and the Telegraph say it's been upgraded from delegation to mission

so are Israeli papers overstating or are other understating?

and the Irishtimes does not say anything about this

[hayu_lol]

5. Comment number 22 to the Haaretz article...

said that Irish TV stated that the Palestinian Diplomatic group's status is to be upgraded to a Mission, not an embassy.

I think maybe some loose journalism going on.