Cabinet approves drafting of bill to ban trade from occupied Palestinian territories

Cabinet has approved the drafting of legislation to ban trade from Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories.

Proposed by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris, the decision will go before an Oireachtas committee next month for pre-legislative scrutiny.

"In many ways this is a small measure, but it is imperative on all countries do what we can to maximise the pressure and conditions to bring about a ceasefire because the scale of humanitarian disaster is almost unimaginable,” Harris said before Cabinet. "It is certainly unconscionable and is certainly a war crime.

"What I hope today is when this small country in Europe makes the decision and becomes one of the first countries, and probably the first country, in the western world to consider legislation in this space, I do hope it inspires other European countries to join us."

Harris also gave mention to Senator Frances Black, who first proposed an Occupied Territories Bill back in 2018.

"We don't have a policy difference on this contrary to the misrepresentation of this by some in opposition," he said.

Black spoke in support of Cabinet’s decision.

"Today's decision by Government is a really important and welcome step, but our work is not done yet,” she said."I first tabled the Occupied Territories Bill in 2018, and finally, after seven years of delay, I’m relieved we are finally seeing some action. It’s horrible that it has taken so much suffering to get here and we can’t afford to waste any more time.

"The onus is now on Government to act with the urgency this moment demands - to stand firmly against the horrific war crimes being committed both in Gaza and the West Bank."

The Labour Party believes that additional days should be available for the Dáil to pass the legislation before the summer break.