Ireland advances bill targeting occupied West Bank settlement goods

 

Ireland is advancing legislation to ban trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Ireland is preparing to move forward with legislation that would prohibit trade involving goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, amid mounting tensions between Dublin and the Israeli regime over the war on Gaza and settlement expansion.

Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said the government aims to secure passage of the bill by mid-July despite pressure from "Israel", members of the US Congress, and international business groups opposing the measure.

The proposed law would mark one of the most significant economic steps taken by a European country against illegal settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories.

With this step, Ireland joins 9 other countries in calling for an end to Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, warning that escalating settler violence and "annexation" policies are undermining regional stability and prospects for a "two-state solution".

In a joint statement issued Friday, the leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, and New Zealand condemned continued settlement construction by the Israeli occupation, stressing that such projects violate international law.  (more...)

Ireland advances bill targeting occupied West Bank settlement goods