Ireland becomes the first EU nation to ban Israeli products.
Ireland has become the first European Union (EU) nation to officially ban the import of all Israeli goods.
The Irish government agreed to move forward with a bill that would make it illegal to import products from Israel.
This decision comes after a ruling last year from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which said that Israel’s control over the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip is against international law.
An Irish government spokesperson explained, “The government believes this is something we must do under international law.”
The ban would apply to things like fruits, vegetables, and timber that come from these settlements.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris hopes that other European countries will follow Ireland’s lead. He said, “I hope it inspires other European countries to join us.”
Despite the fact that the amount of trade with these settlements is very small (less than one million euros over the past four years), this move is seen as very timely and necessary in terms of sending a message.
The new law isn’t expected to be fully in place until the fall. This action by Ireland follows its recognition of the Palestinian state last year, a move also made by Spain, Norway, and Slovenia.
