Latest news with #IsraeliSettlements
CNN
7 days ago
- Business
- CNN
US envoy to Israel tells Ireland to ‘sober up' over occupied Palestinian territories bill
Ireland appears closer to passing a bill that will ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territories in the West Bank, sparking sharp criticism from US officials who have signaled the move could harm Dublin's relationship with Washington. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee accused Ireland of 'diplomatic intoxication' Tuesday in a sharp rebuke of the draft legislation, invoking a derogatory stereotype of the Irish people. 'Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness & propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to act of diplomatic intoxication? It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up Ireland!,' Huckabee said in a post on X. Huckabee's comment comes after the Irish Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade held pre-legislative scrutiny meetings this week to discuss the bill, which has drawn support from pro-Palestinian lawmakers and campaigners and criticism from several Jewish organizations and some in the Jewish community. CNN has reached out to the Irish Foreign Ministry for comment on Huckabee's post. In an apparent attempt to deflect criticism, Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach, or prime minister, has said enacting the bill would be 'largely symbolic,' as it aims to apply pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza. 'This is one element of the government's approach to the devastating violence and the appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank,' Martin said in April. On Monday, the chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, Maurice Cohen, called the bill 'a performance of misguided effort.' 'It won't bring two states closer, but it might drive Jewish communities here in Ireland further into fear and isolation,' Cohen said. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham also weighed in on the bill, saying Tuesday that he hopes 'Ireland will reconsider their efforts to economically isolate Israel.' 'I do not believe these efforts would be well received in the United States and they certainly would not go unnoticed,' Graham said on X. If the legislation – Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 – passes in Ireland's Oireachtas, or parliament, it will mark the first time a European Union member state has enacted such a law. The bill was first tabled in 2018 and has regained momentum since Israel's highly destructive military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. More than 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has said Israel's settlement policies and exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territories breaches international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the ICJ's ruling a 'decision of lies.' Solidarity with the Palestinian cause is longstanding across most of Irish society and politics, with many in Ireland identifying a shared historical experience of subjugation by an occupying state. Ireland became the first EU member state to call for Palestinian statehood in 1980, actualized in its formal recognition of the State of Palestine in May 2024. Israel closed its embassy in Dublin in December 2024, with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accusing Ireland of 'extreme anti-Israel policies.' Ireland has long rejected any accusation that it is anti-Israel. 'Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law,' then-PM Simon Harris said in response to the Israeli embassy closure. 'Ireland wants a two-state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security. Ireland will always speak up for human rights and international law. Nothing will distract from that,' he said. CNN's Kathleen Magramo and Eugenia Yosef contributed reporting.
CNN
7 days ago
- Business
- CNN
US envoy to Israel tells Ireland to ‘sober up' over occupied Palestinian territories bill
Ireland appears closer to passing a bill that will ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territories in the West Bank, sparking sharp criticism from US officials who have signaled the move could harm Dublin's relationship with Washington. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee accused Ireland of 'diplomatic intoxication' Tuesday in a sharp rebuke of the draft legislation, invoking a derogatory stereotype of the Irish people. 'Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness & propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to act of diplomatic intoxication? It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up Ireland!,' Huckabee said in a post on X. Huckabee's comment comes after the Irish Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade held pre-legislative scrutiny meetings this week to discuss the bill, which has drawn support from pro-Palestinian lawmakers and campaigners and criticism from several Jewish organizations and some in the Jewish community. CNN has reached out to the Irish Foreign Ministry for comment on Huckabee's post. In an apparent attempt to deflect criticism, Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach, or prime minister, has said enacting the bill would be 'largely symbolic,' as it aims to apply pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza. 'This is one element of the government's approach to the devastating violence and the appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank,' Martin said in April. On Monday, the chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, Maurice Cohen, called the bill 'a performance of misguided effort.' 'It won't bring two states closer, but it might drive Jewish communities here in Ireland further into fear and isolation,' Cohen said. Republican Senator Lindsay Graham also weighed in on the bill, saying Tuesday that he hopes 'Ireland will reconsider their efforts to economically isolate Israel.' 'I do not believe these efforts would be well received in the United States and they certainly would not go unnoticed,' Graham said on X. If the legislation – Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 – passes in Ireland's Oireachtas, or parliament, it will mark the first time a European Union member state has enacted such a law. The bill was first tabled in 2018 and has regained momentum since Israel's highly destructive military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. More than 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has said Israel's settlement policies and exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territories breaches international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the ICJ's ruling a 'decision of lies.' Solidarity with the Palestinian cause is longstanding across most of Irish society and politics, with many in Ireland identifying a shared historical experience of subjugation by an occupying state. Ireland became the first EU member state to call for Palestinian statehood in 1980, actualized in its formal recognition of the State of Palestine in May 2024. Israel closed its embassy in Dublin in December 2024, with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accusing Ireland of 'extreme anti-Israel policies.' Ireland has long rejected any accusation that it is anti-Israel. 'Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law,' then-PM Simon Harris said in response to the Israeli embassy closure. 'Ireland wants a two-state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security. Ireland will always speak up for human rights and international law. Nothing will distract from that,' he said. CNN's Kathleen Magramo and Eugenia Yosef contributed reporting.
BreakingNews.ie
15-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
‘How dare you': Alan Shatter criticised in committee on Israeli settlements bill
Former justice minister Alan Shatter has been criticised for comparing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements to the TV show Father Ted. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter opposes the Government's draft law banning trade with Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands that have been deemed illegal by the UN's top court. Advertisement He repeatedly described it as a 'Father Ted' measure and compared it to Jews being targeted during the Second World War. The bill banning the trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land is progressing through the Oireachtas. The Government said there is a narrow legal basis, based on an advisory opinion from the UN's top court, to ban the trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements. The Government has said this is being done to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which said last year that countries should 'take steps to prevent trade or investment relations' that maintain illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. Advertisement The bill is before the Foreign Affairs Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny, and is hearing evidence from expert witnesses. Israeli, Palestinian and Jewish representatives, including Mr Shatter, appeared before TDs and senators on Tuesday. Representing the Ireland Israel Alliance, Mr Shatter said the bill was 'based on falsehoods' and 'abandons all lessons learned in our own peace process'. He said a lack of definition for 'originated' in the bill 'creates a myriad of difficulties'. Advertisement He suggested the bill could create 'potential chaos and bureaucracy' at airports and ports for tourists and residents arriving in Ireland, and suggested it could affect the free movement of goods with Northern Ireland. 'The bill is the first initiative of any European government to enact legislation to intentionally boycott and discriminate against Jews since the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945,' he said. Committee member Brian Brennan said that he had met seriously injured and orphaned Gazans as well as 'hardened' charities in Cairo at the weekend. 'I went and I sat on a bed with a young man that was in the prime of his life and has two months to live because of what's happening in Gaza,' the Fine Gael TD for Wexford-Wicklow said. Advertisement 'I played football with teenage kids that are orphans because of what's happening in Gaza. 'I held the hand of a two-year-old child that had bullet wounds because of what's happening in Gaza. 'How dare you come in here and make such statements as 'a Father Ted bill'?' Responding, Mr Shatter said the bill was 'a thing of complete irrelevance' to peace and did not deal 'with the lives of people'. Advertisement 'What you're doing is trying to ban the importation of a small amount of olives and avocados from the West Bank of East Jerusalem, the total value of which, over five years, came to €685,000.' Mr Shatter also said the 'antisemitic symbolism' of the bill was 'reinforced' by no other ban in place for other occupied territories, though there are EU economic restrictions in place for Russian-occupied Crimea. Chairman of the committee John Lahart said that the Government's and committee members' position on Palestine was motivated by 'the descent by the Israeli government and the Israeli Defence Forces into the darkest of places'. He rejected that it was coming from an 'antisemitic perspective' and called that suggestion 'hugely hurtful, hugely offensive and slanderous'. He told Mr Shatter: 'You won't find antisemitism here, and you would do this country, which you love, and we all love – a great favour by promulgating that view as widely and as strongly as you possibly can.' Mr Shatter responded and said this was 'the perception the bill internationally creates'. Mr Lahart said: 'So what I'm saying to you, former member Mr Shatter, is this. You're influential. 'You haven't found that view here; you found a committee motivated by purely humanitarian motives. 'I can't influence you one way or the other, but as chair of the committee, I would implore you, if nothing else, to take that on board when you leave today.' Earlier, Tánaiste Simon Harris responded to Mr Shatter's Father Ted reference by saying there was nothing humorous about the killing of children in Gaza. Mr Harris told Newstalk radio that the Government can differentiate between a people and their government, and that the actions of the Israeli government are 'despicable'. 'I deplore antisemitism, so does everybody in this country, but you know what, I take views of one of the highest courts in the world much more seriously.' He referred to the ICJ opinion and said the EU is recognising that member states can enact domestic legislation in relation to it. 'People in Ireland want to do everything we can to try and see a ceasefire, see humanitarian aid flow and see a two-state solution,' Mr Harris said. 'There's nothing funny or humorous about genocide, and there's nothing humorous or funny about children queuing in Gaza today for food and water who are at risk of being shot dead by the IDF. 'There's a genocide happening in (Gaza), references to Father Ted and the likes, they might be humorous soundbites, but there's nothing funny about the slaughter of children.'
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Israelis urge Ireland to ban trade with illegal settlements on Palestinian land as Shatter criticises ‘Father Ted-like' bill
A former attorney general, several ex-ambassadors and various cultural prize winners have written to an Oireachtas committee to voice their support for a ban on such trade. After being urged for years to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, which was first tabled in 2018 and would ban trade with all illegally occupied territories, fresh legislation to enact a ban was introduced this year. The Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 is going through parliamentary scrutiny and is before the Foreign Affairs Committee. Last week, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh, a member of the South African legal team accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), told the committee the bill was 'a minimum required for compliance by Ireland with its international obligations'. The Irish Government said there is a narrow legal basis, based on an advisory opinion from the UN's top court, to ban the trade with illegal Israeli settlements. The ICJ said last July that countries should 'take steps to prevent trade or investment relations' that maintain illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. The Government is to ban the trade of goods but has indicated services are more legally complex. In a letter to the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, 12 prominent Israeli figures urged Ireland to enact the ban on trade – of both goods and services – and for other European nations to follow suit. 'As citizens of Israel who believe that the end of the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories is the key to achieving peace between our two peoples, we welcome Ireland's advancement of the bill banning imports from Israeli settlements,' it said. We stand with Ireland as it moves ahead and urge other European states to follow suit Among the signatories are former Israeli attorney general Michael Ben-Yair, former director general of the Israeli foreign affairs ministry Dr Alon Liel, former ambassadors, ex-members of the Knesset and Israel Prize recipients. ADVERTISEMENT 'Successive Israeli governments' outright defiance of international law has been enabled by the international community's failure to move from rhetoric to action,' they said. 'The Irish Government is to be commended for taking a stand to halt Israeli settlements from benefiting from the fruit of the poisonous tree. 'The ICJ was clear: all states are obligated 'not to render aid or assistance' that helps maintain the Israeli presence in the OPT [Occupied Palestinian Territory]. 'Accordingly, it is essential that Ireland comply with the ICJ advisory opinion by banning trade with the illegal settlements not only in goods but also in services. 'We expect the parliamentary committee to fulfil its responsibility to uphold the rules-based order by moving the bill forward toward its enactment in a timely manner. 'We stand with Ireland as it moves ahead and urge other European states to follow suit.' This afternoon, several representatives of Palestinian and Israeli groups are due before the committee, including former justice minister Alan Shatter, who is a board member of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter has criticised the government's draft laws to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands. Ahead of appearing before a committee to discuss the legislation, he described it as a 'Father Ted' measure and compared it to the targeting of Jews during the Second World War. Responding to the comments, Fine Gael leader Mr Harris said 'there's nothing funny or humorous' about the killing of children in Gaza. A bill that would ban the trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land is progressing through the Oireachtas. The Irish Government said there is a narrow legal basis, based on an advisory opinion from the UN's top court, to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said last July that countries should 'take steps to prevent trade or investment relations' that maintain illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. The Government is to ban the trade of goods, but has indicated services are more legally complex. The foreign affairs committee is due to hear evidence in relation to the bill from Israeli, Palestinian and Jewish representatives on Tuesday, including Mr Shatter. Mr Shatter told Newstalk radio on Tuesday morning that the bill was 'a Father Ted-like provision' that had 'no relevance' to resolving the conflict. He said it would indicate the Irish government believes that 'no Jewish person should reside or work in East Jerusalem or on the West Bank'. 'So this will be for the first time, a bill enacted by a European parliament which specifically targets Jews,' he said. 'We haven't had that since the end of the Nazi regime in 1945.' Mr Harris told the same radio station that the Irish Government can differentiate between a people and their government, and that the actions of the Israeli government are 'despicable'. 'I deplore antisemitism, so does everybody in this country, but you know what, I take views of one of the highest courts in the world much more seriously.' He referred to the ICJ opinion and said the EU is recognising that member states can enact domestic legislation in relation to it. 'People in Ireland want to do everything we can to try and see a ceasefire, see humanitarian aid flow and see a two-state solution,' Mr Harris said. 'There's nothing funny or humorous about genocide and there's nothing humorous or funny about children queuing in Gaza today for food and water who are at risk of being shot dead by the IDF. 'There's a genocide happening in (Gaza), references to Father Ted and the likes, they might be humorous soundbites but there's nothing funny about the slaughter of children.'
The Journal
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Former Minister Alan Shatter to address Committee opposing Occupied Territories Bill
FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER Alan Shatter is to address the Committee of Foreign Affairs this afternoon representing the Ireland-Israel Association. He will be opposing the implementation of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. Speakers in favour of the bill, and in favour of extending the remit of the bill to include services, will also address the Committee. Ireland Palestine Chair Éamonn Meehan will say that the Bill is an appropriate legal measure to put in place. Advertisement Shatter is expected to claim in his opening statements that the bill discriminates against Jewish people and is a sectarian measure based on falsehoods. He has long been a vocal opponent of the proposed legislation. On the way into Cabinet this morning, Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris responded to a question on his reaction to comments made by Shatter on Newstalk Breakfast this morning in which he claimed that the OTB legislation was reminiscent of 'Nazi Germany legislation'. 'I'm not really sure I have one,' he told reporters. 'I'm much more concerned, rather than Alan Shatter… I'm much more concerned in stopping Israel killing children.' In reaction to a statement that Shatter would be addressing the Oireachtas committee with those comments, Harris said: 'I wish him well.' Includes reporting by Muiris O'Cearbhaill Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
