Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has said that Ireland is moving forward with legislation to prohibit the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, report the Middle East Monitor.
McEntee stated that the Irish government hopes to pass the legislation by mid-July, reflecting Dublin’s growing criticism of Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories.
The proposed measure comes despite strong opposition from the Israeli government, members of the US Congress and international business groups.
Ireland has emerged as one of Europe’s strongest critics of Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza. Since late 2024, the Irish government has repeatedly warned that it could introduce economic measures targeting Israeli settlements in response to continued settlement expansion.
According to McEntee, the tougher stance has been prompted by what she described as the Israeli government’s unwillingness to pursue a peaceful resolution. She also pointed to a sharp increase in settler attacks in the occupied West Bank.
The Irish Independent reported McEntee as saying that the recent surge in settler violence demonstrated that the Israeli government had ‘no desire’ for a peaceful solution.
