The Irish parliament approved a bill on Tuesday banning the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, as Dublin moves towards adopting one of the toughest trade measures in Europe on the issue.
The legislation bans the import of goods from “certain Israeli settlements” located outside Israel’s internationally recognised borders, covering products linked to housing, agriculture and commercial activities.
Ireland is the first European Union member state to move ahead with such a ban. Spain began enforcing restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements in October.
The centre-right coalition government said the legislation was based on the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which concluded that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip is unlawful under international law.
Ireland has been one of the strongest critics of Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip and recognised the State of Palestine in 2024. Following that decision, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar ordered the closure of Israel’s embassy in Dublin, accusing Ireland of pursuing “extreme anti-Israel policies”.
Last month, Dublin barred Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country over their conduct towards activists aboard the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Ireland has also repeatedly called for a review of the 1995 European Union-Israel Association Agreement, which forms the basis of trade relations between the two sides.
