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🇮🇱 Israel /Economy & Trade

Irish bill to curb trade with Israeli settlements due in 'coming weeks', minister says

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Ireland plans to introduce a bill to parliament in the coming weeks that aims to restrict trade with settlements in the West Bank.
  • The legislation has been in drafting for a year and faces pressure to include services, not just goods, while Israel and the U.S. oppose it.
  • Ireland hopes to coordinate the bill's introduction with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, but will proceed alone if necessary.

Ireland is set to take a significant step in its foreign policy by introducing a bill to curb trade with settlements in the occupied West Bank. This move, announced by Foreign Minister Helen McEntee, signals Ireland's continued commitment to international law and its stance against the expansion of settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. The legislation, which has been in the works for the past year, aims to align Ireland's trade practices with its stated values.

The bill has generated considerable debate, both domestically and internationally. Opposition politicians in Ireland have pushed for a broader scope, advocating for a ban on services in addition to goods. Meanwhile, Israel and certain political factions in the United States have actively lobbied against the bill, seeking its withdrawal. This opposition highlights the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding the issue of Israeli settlements.

I will bring forward a piece of legislation in the coming weeks.

— Helen McEnteeAnnouncing the timeline for the proposed bill to parliament.

Minister McEntee expressed her intention to bring the legislation before parliament in the coming weeks, with a hope to synchronize its introduction with similar initiatives in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Slovenia. However, she made it clear that Ireland will proceed with its own bill even if its European partners do not join. This determination underscores Ireland's resolve to act on the issue, regardless of the broader European consensus. Spain's existing trade curbs serve as a precedent, making Ireland the second EU member to implement such measures, further emphasizing its proactive role in this area.

If they decide not to, then we will still continue with ours. I'm being very clear about that.

— Helen McEnteeStating Ireland's commitment to proceed with the bill independently if necessary.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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