Urgent Call to Ban Services in Occupied Territories Bill

UPDATE: A coalition of over 80 humanitarian and faith-based organizations is urgently calling for the Government to include a ban on services in the Occupied Territories Bill. This demand, outlined in the newly released Trading with Illegal Settlements report, seeks to expand existing restrictions on goods from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The report, published on Monday, August 28, 2023, emphasizes that current legislation must extend beyond goods to tackle services that contribute to the dispossession of Palestinians. According to the authors, including organizations such as Oxfam and Christian Aid, the ongoing trade directly supports the impoverishment of the Palestinian population.

Senator Frances Black, who originally proposed the bill, stated, “We have been debating this legislation for seven long years, and in that time the situation in Palestine has rapidly deteriorated.” She further emphasized the urgency of action, linking current events to a “live-streamed genocide” in Gaza.

The timing of this report is critical as it arrives just days before the Dail reconvenes after summer recess. Simon Harris, the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, indicated he is “open” to including services in the bill, with potential decisions expected early in the new Dail term.

The report builds on previous recommendations from a cross-party Oireachtas committee in July and echoes calls from various activists and opposition parties. It highlights that the EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, accounting for 32% of trade, which totals approximately €42 billion annually. The report estimates that as much as €350 million worth of products from settlement-based Israeli corporations could be imported into Europe each year.

Moreover, the report draws attention to increasing settlement expansion and violence, as reported by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It argues that trade with illegal settlements supports a system of oppression and economic suppression in the region.

Jim Clarken, CEO of Oxfam Ireland, criticized the situation, stating, “This report lays bare the brutality of life under Israel’s illegal occupation since 1967: settler violence, land theft, and the suffocation of the Palestinian economy.” He called for the EU to suspend its trade agreement with Israel until human rights obligations are met.

In a related development, Ireland and eight other EU member states urged the European Commission in June for immediate proposals to halt trade with Israeli settlements. Countries like Slovenia and Spain have already implemented bans on goods from illegal settlements, signaling a growing trend within the EU.

The report not only advocates for a ban on services but also recommends suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement until compliance with human rights obligations is achieved.

As this situation unfolds, stakeholders are closely watching for potential legislative changes in Ireland and the EU. The call for action is not just a legal matter; it resonates powerfully with humanitarian concerns and the ongoing plight of Palestinians.

The urgency of this report and the call for action could shape the future of trade relations and human rights policies within the EU, making it a crucial moment for Ireland and its partners.

Stay tuned for further developments on this rapidly evolving situation.