8 months ago
Ireland to limit trade curbs on Israeli settlements to goods
Ireland is planning a new law to stop trading certain goods with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The law will only apply to a few products like dried fruit and won't include services.
This is because of international laws that say these settlements are not allowed.
Some people in Ireland want the law to be stricter and include services too.
Israel and some U.S. officials have criticized Ireland, saying the country is being unfair to Jewish people.
But Ireland says it's not and values its Jewish community.
The law is not expected to pass this year.
Ireland's planned legislation will limit trade with Israeli settlements to goods only, excluding services.
The bill is expected to affect a small number of products, such as dried fruit, worth around 200,000 euros annually.
Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, but Israel disputes this.
Lawmaker Frances Black aims to push for a ban on services in the new year.
Ireland has rejected accusations of antisemitism from Israeli and U.S. officials, emphasizing the contributions of Jewish people in Ireland.
- Who
- Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne; Lawmaker Frances Black; Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar; U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham; EU Lawmaker Barry Andrews
- What
- Ireland's planned legislation to curb trade with Israeli settlements, limited to goods
- Where
- Ireland, Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza
- When
- Bill not to be implemented this year; Frances Black to push for services ban in the new year
- Why
- To comply with international law regarding illegal settlements; Ireland seeks to deflect pressure from U.S. companies and critics
Key facts
- Scope of the bill
- Limited to goods only, excluding services
- Estimated annual trade value
- 200,000 euros
- Examples of affected goods
- Dried fruit
- International law stance
- Most consider Israeli settlements illegal
- Israeli stance on settlements
- Disputes illegality, cites historical and biblical ties
- Irish government's timeline
- Bill not to be implemented this year
- Accusations against Ireland
- Antisemitic nature by Israeli and U.S. officials
- Ireland's response to accusations
- Rejects antisemitism claims, values Jewish contributions
Quotes
Thomas Byrne
Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence
“It’s an extremely limited measure, which would prohibit imports of goods from illegally-occupied territories. Similar measures have already been brought in in a number of European countries.”
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“I reject outright that the country is in any way antisemitic. We’re deeply conscious of the contribution that Jewish people have made in Ireland.”
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Frances Black
The lawmaker who proposed the Irish bill
“It will take a lot of work in the new year to get services included but that’s exactly what I’m prepared to do.”
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Barry Andrews
An Irish member of the European parliament
“Claims that Ireland is antisemitic are nonsense. Ireland has nothing to fear. We are no longer the only ones doing this.”
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