Ireland has been one of the strongest critics in the EU of Israel's warfare in Gaza. Now the country's government is taking a new step, to be the first EU country to ban trade with Israeli settlers.
It is the government's opinion that it is its duty under current international law, says a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry.
Besides individual settlers, the law also covers companies and farms located outside what is internationally recognized as Israel's borders.
Prior to the government meeting where the decision on the bill was made, Foreign Minister Harris said he hopes that other EU countries will follow Ireland's example.
What I hope for today is that it inspires other countries in Europe when this small nation makes this decision and becomes one of the first, if not the first, in the Western world to consider such legislation.
Ireland recognized Palestine a year ago. The country has also backed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and accused Israel of genocide in Gaza.
In response, Israel closed its embassy in Dublin last December, citing "in light of an extreme, anti-Israel policy from the Irish government's side", according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The ban that would become a reality if the law is adopted is mainly of symbolic value. The trade affected was worth less than one million euros between 2020 and 2024, according to AFP.
The law is not expected to be adopted until the autumn.
