Opinion

Ireland a thorn in Israel’s side

July 21, 2018

While other countries have issued condemnations or moved to label Israeli items produced in the occupied Palestinian territories, a new bill passed by Ireland’s senate is believed to be the first that would ban the import of products from the occupied lands. That would pave the way for the country to become the first European Union nation to enforce a boycott.

The bill in question, which must be approved by Ireland's lower house of parliament before becoming law, prohibits “the import and sales of goods, services and natural resources originating in illegal settlements in occupied [Palestinian] territories.” The offense would be punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of 250,000 euros.

For some reason, the bill does not name Israel but instead refers to an “occupying power” and “illegal settler”. Frances Black, the independent senator who sponsored the bill, was not so coy when she said before the vote that “trade in settlement goods sustains injustice” and that in the occupied territories, “people are forcibly kicked out of their homes, fertile farming land is seized, and the fruit and vegetables produced are then sold on Irish shelves to pay for it all.”

“These settlements are war crimes, and it’s time for Ireland to show some leadership and refuse to support them.”

Stinging remarks that would not have been surprising had they come from an anti-Israeli organization or a Palestinian official? But Ireland? Ireland is actually one of Israel’s strongest critics in Europe, and relations between the countries have strained on several occasions, typically over popular Irish support for the Palestinian cause. Drawing from Ireland’s own experience of being colonized by Great Britain, and its struggle for liberation, many Irishmen deeply empathize with the Palestinian struggle. A 1984 strike by Dunnes Stores workers in Dublin over South African produce serves as a precedent for today's bill.

Naturally, the bill has faced angry Israeli opposition. When he first got whiff of it, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Ireland’s ambassador to Israel. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman called for the shuttering of the Israeli embassy in Dublin. Also Ireland's ambassador to Israel was summoned by the Foreign Ministry for a dressing down.

Israel’s panic stemmed from the new territory Ireland has ventured into. Three years ago the EU published guidelines informing member states how to prevent goods produced in the West Bank — including the eastern part of Jerusalem — and the Golan Heights as being labeled as "made in Israel." These products have since been marked with a special numerical code indicating their place of origin is outside of Israel's recognized international borders. The Irish bill takes the issue of goods coming from the occupied lands to a new higher level.

Notably, the bill is opposed by the Irish government as well, but primarily on legal grounds as Ireland cannot bar goods available elsewhere in the EU. Nevertheless, the bill was passed on the strength of support from the opposition and independents.

Ireland is currently seeking to gain a seat on the UN Security Council for the 2021-2022 rotation, and this bill could be just the kind of measure Ireland should be taking to show it is worthy of the honor.

The value of settlement-made products to Ireland are miniscule, but still the bill could chart a path for other EU states to follow. For now, though, there is no indication that other EU member states will follow Ireland. There is also no guarantee that the proposed bill will complete the legislative process and become law. But Ireland is setting an example not just for the EU but the rest of the world.

While settlements are condemned as illegal by the EU and the UN, people around the world continue to buy produce produced by Palestinian hands and sweat but come from land not called Palestinian. This must stop.


July 21, 2018
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