Ireland has taken a significant step in its Middle East policy after both houses of the Oireachtas approved legislation banning the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Bill cleared its final parliamentary hurdle in the Seanad on Wednesday and will now be sent to the President for formal approval before becoming law.
New Law Targets Goods From Israeli Settlements
The legislation prohibits the importation of products originating from specific Israeli settlements that Ireland considers illegal under international law.
The Government said the measure aligns with its international legal obligations, citing the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024 as the basis for the move.
Officials described the legislation as part of Ireland’s broader commitment to upholding international law and supporting efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Government Replaces Earlier Private Member’s Bill
The newly approved legislation replaces the Occupied Territories Bill introduced in 2018 by Independent Senator Frances Black.
Black’s original proposal sought to prohibit all trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and became a prominent campaign issue among pro-Palestinian advocacy groups in Ireland.
Rather than advancing that proposal, the Government introduced its own version of the legislation, narrowing its focus specifically to the import of goods from designated settlements.
Critics Say the Ban Does Not Go Far Enough
Although many campaigners welcomed the Bill’s passage, some activists and opposition politicians argued that the legislation falls short of what had been promised.
Their main criticism is that the law applies only to physical goods and does not extend to services linked to Israeli settlements.
Supporters of the broader ban contend that excluding services weakens the overall impact of the legislation and leaves significant commercial activity untouched.
Government Cites Legal Constraints
Ministers have defended the narrower scope of the legislation, saying legal barriers prevented the inclusion of services.
According to the Government, advice from the Attorney General concluded that implementing a ban on trade in services would be considerably more complex and could not be introduced under the current legal framework.
As a result, lawmakers proceeded with legislation focused solely on imported goods.
Minister Welcomes Parliamentary Milestone
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee praised the Bill’s approval, describing it as an important demonstration of Ireland’s commitment to international law, human rights, and efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
She also acknowledged the role played by Senator Frances Black, whose years of campaigning helped keep the issue on the political agenda.
McEntee thanked members of both houses of parliament as well as civil society organizations that contributed during the legislative process.
Ireland Seeks Broader European Action
While the legislation marks a major policy change at the national level, the Government says its work is not finished.
Irish officials continue to engage with European partners in support of a wider European Union ban on trade involving Israeli settlements, arguing that a coordinated approach across the bloc would strengthen the effectiveness of such measures.
If signed into law by the President, the legislation will make Ireland one of the few countries to introduce a national ban specifically targeting imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
