Dublin (UNA/WAFA) – The Irish Parliament has passed a bill banning the import of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
This legislation prohibits the import of goods from “certain Israeli settlements” located outside Israel’s internationally recognized borders, including anything related to housing, agriculture, and trade..
While Ireland is the first EU member state to implement this ban, Spain began applying a package of restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements starting in October..
The center-right coalition government said that the legislation it drafted was based on the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which deemed Israel's occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip illegal under international law..
Ireland was at the forefront of criticizing the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, and recognized the State of Palestine in 2024. At that time, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar ordered the closure of his country's embassy in Dublin, accusing it of pursuing "extreme anti-Israel policies."".
Last month, Dublin barred Israel's extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering its territory, due to their behavior towards activists of the "Global Steadfastness Flotilla".".
Ireland has long been calling for a review of the 1995 EU-Israel Association Agreement, which forms the basis for trade relations between the two sides..
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