Ireland approves first Palestine ambassador after recognising Palestinian state

After Dublin formally recognised a Palestinian state earlier this year, Ireland on Tuesday accepted the appointment of a full Palestinian ambassador for the first time.

According to AFP, citing senior ministers, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid would step up from her current position as Palestinian Head of Mission to Ireland.

In May, Dublin announced its recognition of Palestine as “a sovereign and independent state,” encompassing the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and committed to establishing full diplomatic relations.

Spain and Norway made the same declaration on the same day as Ireland, with Slovenia following a week later, prompting retaliatory measures from Israel.

These countries have been vocal in their criticism of Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, which ignited the latest wave of violence in the region.

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Ireland and the State of Palestine officially established diplomatic relations in September.

Last month, the Palestinian Authority formally notified Dublin of its intention to upgrade its representation in Ireland from a diplomatic mission to a resident embassy under the 1961 Vienna Convention which guarantees protection for diplomatic staff.

The upgrade means that the diplomatic mission will now have the full range of privileges and immunities applicable under the Vienna Convention.

With inputs from agencies