Irish President Michael D. Higgins has accused Israel of violating the sovereignty of its neighbors and dismissed Israeli accusations of Irish antisemitism as 'deep slander.' The Israeli Foreign Ministry closed its embassy in Ireland due to 'actions and antisemitic rhetoric' from Ireland. Higgins expressed concern that the accusations were intended to harm Ireland and criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for breaching international law and the sovereignty of neighboring countries. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar responded by calling Higgins an 'antisemitic liar' and disputed his claims about Israeli occupation in Lebanon and Syria.