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Ireland’s newly acquired $61 million government aircraft is entering service without an advanced landing system designed for poor weather after the country declined to purchase Israeli-made equipment, a decision that has drawn scrutiny given Ireland’s notoriously foggy climate.

The new Dassault Falcon 6X, which will serve as the primary aircraft for transporting Ireland’s senior leadership, was delivered without the FalconEye navigation system. The equipment, typically installed in the aircraft’s nose, enables pilots to land safely in low-visibility conditions such as heavy fog and mist, according to Irish outlet The Journal.

Sources cited by the publication said the FalconEye system is manufactured by Israeli defense company Elbit, making it incompatible with the Irish government’s policy of avoiding Israeli products.

The policy traces back to remarks made in 2024 by Ireland’s current Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, when he was serving as the country’s foreign minister. At the time, Martin stated that the Irish government would not purchase products made in Israel.

The omission is especially notable because Ireland is well known for its damp, overcast weather, with fog and low cloud frequently affecting air travel throughout the country.

The Republic receives only about 1,100 to 1,600 hours of sunshine each year, placing it among Europe’s cloudiest nations.

Cork Airport, the country’s second-largest airport after Dublin, records approximately 99 foggy days annually, underscoring the potential value of an advanced low-visibility landing system.

Built by Dassault Aviation SA, the Falcon 6X can accommodate up to 14 passengers and is intended primarily to transport the Taoiseach, Ireland’s prime minister, along with other senior government officials on official travel.

The aircraft entered service at the end of 2025, replacing the Irish government’s aging Learjet.

Despite Dublin’s stance against purchasing Israeli products, the report noted that Ireland’s newly acquired Air Corps helicopters are equipped with Israeli-made flight systems because those aircraft cannot operate without the technology.

Relations between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated sharply since the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks and the ensuing war in Gaza.

In recent years, Ireland has supported international legal proceedings accusing Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice. The Irish government has also formally recognized a Palestinian state and imposed entry bans on senior Israeli officials.

The diplomatic dispute has continued to escalate, with Israel ultimately closing its embassy in Dublin, citing what it described as the Irish government’s policies and hostile rhetoric toward the Jewish state.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued one of his strongest warnings yet to Iran, declaring that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz or risk a devastating American military response. While emphasizing that diplomatic talks are underway, Trump made clear that the military option remains on the table if negotiations fail.

Speaking during an interview with Fox News that aired Tuesday night, Trump said the United States is engaged in discussions with Iran but insisted he is fully prepared to use force if Iran refuses to allow shipping through the strategically vital waterway.

“Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. They already can’t, but it’s going to be formal. The Strait’s going to be open very soon, or they’re going to get hit very hard, and then the Strait’s going to be open,” said the President.

.@POTUS on Iran: "The Strait is going to be open very soon — or they're gonna hit very hard, and then the Strait is going to be open." pic.twitter.com/Phexz39YE8

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 5, 2026

Trump said the situation had previously come dangerously close to erupting into an unprecedented military confrontation before Iran reached out in hopes of avoiding war.

“We were going to a tremendous attack, the biggest since World War II. And they called me and said, very politely, ‘Please, can we talk? Can we talk?’ They didn’t want [an attack]. And I said, ‘Yes, we can talk. Let’s get it done. Finally, let’s get it done.’”

He argued that the crisis should have been resolved decades ago and said previous American administrations failed to confront the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“this should have been done by other presidents for 50 years. Other presidents or other countries should have been able to do this. And I did something that I had to do, because if they had a nuclear weapon, this whole world would be a different place.”

Trump also maintained that diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran are progressing, despite repeated public denials from Iranian officials.

He said the two sides are “having very good discussions” and continued, “They don’t like to admit that, but you know it’s a little bit disconcerting. You tell people ‘we’re having wonderful discussions’ and then some guy will come out of Iran and say ‘We have not met.’ It’s a lie. They want to make a deal.”

When asked how long he is willing to wait before concluding diplomacy has failed, Trump suggested he is in no rush to make that determination.

“I have plenty of time.”

The interview followed remarks Trump made on Monday indicating that he is ready to authorize a major military campaign against Iran if necessary, though he stressed that he hopes a diplomatic agreement can still prevent such a conflict.

“I think we’re going to maybe get something, but I want to give them every last chance before decapitation,” Trump stated. “Very tough to do what we have planned, still planned. We’ll see what happens, but it’s a very, very tough thing to do.”

Trump reiterated that, despite ongoing military planning, he would rather resolve the standoff through negotiations than by launching a large-scale attack.

“I think I’m very proud of the fact that I will give people a chance,” Trump said. “This is a big move to do an attack that big on a country. I’d rather not do it.”

Earlier Tuesday, Trump sharply criticized Iran after its government publicly denied that negotiations with the United States are taking place, accusing Tehran of saying one thing privately while presenting a different story to the world.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump said Iranian officials had requested a meeting and that talks were already underway, with additional discussions expected soon.

“Iranian leadership is unbelievably duplicitous! They ask for a meeting, some would say ‘beg,’ talks begin, with more scheduled in the immediate future, and they say, openly and proudly, that they’re not having any discussions, that nothing is being talked about, and they’re only dealing with ‘Oman,'” Trump wrote.

{Matzav.com}