Dublin says proposed trade ban aligns with international law; move sparks renewed diplomatic tensions with Israel.
By David Brummer, World Israel News
The Irish government has approved the drafting of legislation that would prohibit the import of goods originating in Israeli “settlements” located in Judea and Samaria—an unprecedented step for a European Union member state.
Foreign Minister and Tánaiste Simon Harris confirmed the Cabinet’s decision on Tuesday, framing the measure as a response to international legal obligations.
“The government has agreed to advance legislation prohibiting trade in goods with illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory [sic],” a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told AFP, citing Ireland’s interpretation of international law.
The settlements targeted by the proposed law include residential, agricultural, and commercial enterprises situated outside what the Irish claim are Israel’s internationally recognized borders in Judea and Samaria.
The bill is expected to be sent to the Foreign Affairs Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny in the coming weeks, according to the Irish Times.
The measure builds on the long-debated so-called Occupied Territories Bill, first introduced by Independent Senator Frances Black in 2018.
That bill stalled amid legal concerns over its compatibility with EU trade regulations, but gained renewed momentum following the interpretation of the International Court of Justice’s 2023 advisory opinion that Israeli settlements violate international law.
Israel, which strongly rejects characterizations of its settlement activity as illegal, has sharply criticized the Irish initiative.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated further in recent months, particularly since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October 2023.
In response to Ireland’s increasingly vocal criticism of its military campaign, Israel announced the closure of its embassy in Dublin in December.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Ireland of applying double standards, dehumanizing Israel, and legitimizing Hamas narratives.
He also condemned comments by Irish President Michael D. Higgins, who has repeatedly denounced Israeli actions and recently drew controversial parallels between the war in Gaza and the Holocaust.
Sa’ar said in response, “Even on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Irish President Michael Higgins couldn’t help himself and resorted to a cheap, despicable provocation.”
Even on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Irish President Michael Higgins couldn’t help himself and resorted to a cheap, despicable provocation.
The biggest murderous attack against Jews since the Holocaust was perpetrated from Jihadist Gaza. Nonetheless, he echoed…
— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) January 26, 2025
Furthermore, Ireland’s May 2024 declaration, that, along with Spain and Norway, it would recognize a Palestinian state, has also done nothing to smooth relations between the two countries.
One year ago, Ireland formally recognised the State of Palestine.
We did so because we believe that the people of Palestine and the people of Israel both deserve to live in peace and security, side-by-side. pic.twitter.com/Ibk2iKA3U3
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) May 28, 2025
Harris has emphasized that the proposed trade ban is a “small measure” aimed at reinforcing international norms and pressuring all parties toward a ceasefire. “It is imperative for all countries to do all that we can to maximise the pressure and conditions to bring about a ceasefire,” he said.
The EU recently launched a review of its Association Agreement with Israel, a 1995 trade and cooperation deal. While Brussels has not announced formal sanctions, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said a majority of member states backed the review as a potential pressure tool.
If passed, Ireland’s law would be the first of its kind in the EU, potentially placing it at odds with Brussels over the bloc’s exclusive authority on trade policy, and further complicating its diplomatic posture amid one of the world’s most polarizing conflicts.
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