Ireland among nine countries demanding EU discontinue trade with illegal Israeli settlements

Ireland has joined eight other countries in writing to the EU Commission demanding urgent action to "effectively discontinue" trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
It comes as Tánaiste Simon Harris is due to bring a draft scheme of the Occupied Territories Bill to Cabinet next week with the aim of having it scrutinised by politicians before the Dáil summer recess.
Confirming that the Government has joined several EU countries on Thursday to deliver "a clear message" to the European Commission, Mr Harris said: "We now urgently need proposals at EU level to effectively discontinue trade with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territory."
It is expected that a review of the EU-Israel trade agreement, which had been undertaken following a request by the Dutch government, could be published as early as tomorrow ahead of a crunch meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
However, there is now a concern among some members states, including Ireland, that taking action or imposing any trade sanctions could be delayed.
Mr Harris along with his counterparts in Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden have now signed a joint letter asking the European Commission to examine how trade in goods and services linked to illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory can be brought into line with international law.
This follows the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clearly states that third countries must refrain from any trade or investment that helps sustain an illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Belgium foreign affairs minister, Maxime Prevot, said: "Upholding international law is a shared responsibility. In a rules-based international order, legal clarity must guide political choices. A united European approach can help ensure that our policies reflect our values."

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