Ireland is set to pass legislation by mid-July banning trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Foreign Minister Helen McEntee confirmed on Tuesday. The move, long promised by the Irish government, has faced delays due to conflicting pressures from opposition politicians, business groups, and international lobbyists.
The bill will be limited to goods only, excluding services, after Prime Minister Micheal Martin deemed a broader ban on services as neither 'implementable' nor 'viable'. This restriction means the measure will impact only a handful of products, such as fruit, worth an estimated €200,000 (£172,640) annually, according to Ireland's Central Statistics Office.
McEntee cited Israel's actions, including increased settler violence in the West Bank and continued violence in Lebanon, as reasons for the legislation. 'They have no desire to take this particular road,' she said, referring to a peaceful solution. Israel's far-right coalition has enabled rapid settlement expansion, with some ministers advocating annexation.
Ireland aims to pass the law alongside Belgium, the Netherlands, and possibly Slovenia, which have also committed to similar bans. Spain is the only EU member to have already introduced such curbs. However, a group of US lawmakers warned in 2025 that the bill could damage US-Irish relations, given that US-owned multinationals employ about 11% of Irish workers.
Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties.
