Ireland's Legal Hurdles in Expanding Trade Ban with Israeli Settlements

Ireland's top government lawyer has flagged critical legal and practical hurdles in extending a proposed trade ban to include services with Israeli settlements. The issue was highlighted in a parliamentary session where Neale Richmond, a junior minister, discussed the long-awaited advice from the attorney general with lawmakers on Thursday.

The Irish government's planned legislation originally aimed to curb trade from Israeli-occupied West Bank settlements. While there has been domestic pressure to broaden the scope to services, international pushback has stalled progress. Sources noted U.S. lobbying efforts and pressure from Israel to keep the bill focused solely on goods.

Dublin has committed to introducing legislation by October 2024, but delays persist due to legal complexities. Limiting the bill to goods would affect minimal imports, valued at approximately 200,000 euros annually, but expanding it to services would implicate multinational technology and other companies operating within Ireland. Despite the challenges, similar measures are gaining traction in Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium.