Ireland to Ban Trade with Illegal Israeli Settlements: A Landmark EU Decision

Ireland to Become First EU Country to Ban Trade with Illegal Israeli Settlements Ireland is set to become the first European Union country to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. The Irish Cabinet is expected to approve the drafting of the Occupied Territories Bill today, a piece of legislation first proposed in 2018. The bill has faced a long and complex journey to this point, with significant pressure from both domestic and international sources. Richard Chambers, a news correspondent for Virgin Media News, stated, "When it is enacted, Ireland will become the first EU country to ban the trade in goods coming from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land." He highlighted the pressure on the government to enact the bill, particularly in the wake of Israel's assault on Gaza in October 2023. The Taoiseach, in a separate statement, emphasized the moral imperative of the bill, citing the ongoing horrors in Gaza. While the level of trade currently conducted with these settlements is minimal, the bill sends a powerful message and could potentially influence other EU countries to follow suit. The bill will now proceed to the Foreign Affairs Committee before the Dáil's summer recess.