Ireland to review bill banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – The Irish government is mulling reviewing a bill banning imports from Israeli-occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) for violating humanitarian law, the nation's Taoiseach (prime minister) announced on Tuesday.

Simon Harris stated that his government considered the approach to be taken to trade with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory after receiving legal confirmation from the country's attorney general in accordance with the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) Advisory Opinion issued in July.

The ICJ issued an advisory opinion concluding that Israel’s decades-long occupation and annexation of Palestinian land violates fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

Recalling that the Advisory Opinion concluded that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal and should be brought to an end as soon as possible, Harris said in a statement that it also addressed the duty of all states not to render any aid or assistance in maintaining that situation.

"This duty includes an obligation to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the OPT," he noted, adding that Ireland welcomed this opinion.

Last week, Harris said EU states are obligated to review an agreement defining the bloc's trade relations with Israel in light of the ICJ’s recent Advisory Opinion on Israel's unlawful occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory.

"As I said at the time, the international community must turn its mind to implementation. This is more urgent than ever. The death and destruction in Gaza and the West Bank must stop. Israel must fulfil its obligations under international law," he noted.

He reiterated that the government has decided to review the bill and prepare amendments to bring it into line with the Constitution and EU law, and that "a range of complex policy and legal issues" must be resolved.

"The Government is committed to taking forward this work, commencing with a review of the Bill, to be progressed in consultation with the Attorney General, relevant Ministers, and the Sponsor of the Bill (Senator Frances Black)," underlined Harris.

The attorney general of Ireland has clarified that there are grounds in EU law that allow member states to take national action, the prime minister said, pointing out that his government will now reconsider the Occupied Territories Bill.

"It is the government’s intention that any trade restrictions would focus on the Occupied Palestinian Territory."

Reiterating Ireland's demand for an immediate cease-fire, the release of hostages, and a massive scale-up of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Harris urged EU member states to consider the implications of the Advisory Opinion for EU-Israel relations and to adopt measures at the EU level.