The lower house of Ireland’s parliament approved the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill on Tuesday, with the bill now moving to the upper house for final approval.
Opposition lawmakers argued that the legislation does not go far enough because it excludes trade in services.
Dublin has emerged as one of Israel’s strongest critics within the European Union since the outbreak of the Gaza war following the October 7, 2023 Hamas pogrom. The Irish government recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, prompting Israel to close its embassy in Dublin.
Ireland has also been among the strongest advocates for reviewing the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs trade and political cooperation between the bloc and Israel.
Tuesday’s legislation prohibits the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements located outside Israel’s internationally recognised borders, including agricultural, residential, and commercial products. The government acknowledged that the measure will have only a limited economic effect, as imports from the settlements amounted to less than €1 million between 2020 and 2024, consisting mainly of fruit, vegetables, and timber.
The Irish government said the bill was drafted in line with a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which concluded that Israel’s occupation of the ‘West Bank’ (Judea and Samaria), East Jerusalem, and Gaza is illegal under international law.
Ireland seems to be literally obsessed with Israel, with anti-Israel posturing and antisemitic hate speech and incidents on the increase ever since October 7.
