Ireland passes law banning imports from Israeli settlements in West Bank

Ireland decides on an import ban for goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Photo: Mamoun Wazwaz/XinHua/dpa

From Dublin Ralf Sotscheck

After an eight-year legislative process, the Irish parliament has passed a law banning the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The bill, originally introduced by Senator Frances Black in 2018, initially covered both goods and services, but the governing parties ultimately excluded services from the final legislation.

Key Details

• Scope of the ban: Applies to goods only; services are excluded.
• Legislative history: The bill was first introduced in 2018 and took eight years to pass.
• Opposition concerns: A final attempt to include services failed in the Senate on Wednesday.

Criticism and Legal Concerns

Opposition politicians argued that excluding services leaves a "massive gap," as services account for approximately 70 percent of trade with the region. This is despite a government analysis stating that the only reasonable interpretation of international law is a complete trade ban with the illegal Israeli settlements.

Foreign Minister Helen McEntee acknowledged that the law as passed is not actually compatible with international law. The government's "two-track approach" involves passing the import ban on goods while simultaneously pushing at the EU level for broader measures against Israel, including a trade ban on both goods and services.

Senator Frances Black stated that the government had "knowingly approved a law that constitutes a violation of international legal obligations," adding that this situation will persist "until a complete ban is agreed at the EU level – which, as we know, may never happen." She further noted that the government is letting "large companies that trade based on technology, IT, and other services off the hook."

Senator and former Attorney General Michael McDowell said he agreed with Black on "every single word."

Domestic and International Reactions

Paul Murphy, a member of parliament for the socialist party "People Before Profit," accused the conservative coalition of trying to "completely hollow out" the law. Criticism also came from within the government's own ranks. Seán Ó Fearghaíl, a member of the governing party Fianna Fáil, said Ireland is "afraid of what the Americans might do or say."

Prior to the Irish parliamentary debate, US Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer called for the bill to be withdrawn, describing it as "a unilateral measure that singles out Israel while ignoring territorial disputes everywhere else in the world." He warned that US companies in Ireland could be forced to choose between complying with Irish law and complying with anti-boycott laws in thirty-eight US states.

Background: Ireland-Israel Relations

Relations between Ireland and Israel have been quite cool for a long time. In December 2024, Israel closed its embassy in Dublin after the Irish parliament:

• Unanimously recognized the State of Palestine
• Elevated the Palestinian mission in Dublin to the rank of an embassy
• Supported the South African lawsuit against Israel for genocide