Ireland's Proposed Settlement Trade Law Faces Criticism from Israel and US
Ireland is advancing a controversial bill aimed at restricting trade with West Bank settlements, which has drawn criticism from both Israel and the United States. The proposed legislation, clarified by Thomas Byrne, Ireland’s minister of state for European affairs and defense, is intended to ban the import of goods from territories occupied in violation of international law. This measure is limited in scope and will not take effect this year. The bill has sparked debate within Ireland, with activists pushing for a broader ban that includes services, while the government faces pressure from international stakeholders to abandon the legislation. The bill's current draft targets imports from the West Bank, valued at approximately 200,000 euros annually. Frances Black, the lawmaker behind the bill, insists on including a ban on services, despite potential complications for technology firms operating in Ireland.