Irish government to consider trade ban with Israeli settlements
The Irish government announced on October 22nd that it is set to review a bill banning imports from the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories (OPT) according to Anadolu Agency reports.
Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Simon Harris stated that his government would consider trade with illegal Israeli settlements as a result of violations of humanitarian law. This is after the Irish government have received legal confirmation from the attorney general in July, in accordance with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion.
The ICJ’s advisory opinion concluded that Israel’s occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory violates international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, the Irish Attorney General, Rossa Fanning, has clarified that there are grounds in EU law that allow member states to take national action.
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“It is the government’s intention that any trade restrictions would focus on the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” said Harris reiterating Ireland’s demand for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and a massive scale-up of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Harris also urged EU member states to consider the implications of the Advisory Opinion for EU-Israel relations and to adopt measures at the EU level.
“This duty includes an obligation to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the OPT,” he noted, adding that Ireland welcomed this opinion.
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Ireland has been one of the EU’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s military response to the Hamas attacks on October 7th 2023.
In May Ireland alongside Spain and Norway announced plans to formally recognise the Palestinian state, while in March former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar demanded an immediate ceasefire when he met US President Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, the Israeli ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich has remained in Israel since May having been recalled in protest of Ireland’s decision to recognise the Palestinian state and in the wake of deteriorating diplomatic relations.
Anadolu Agency
