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Ireland is making history as the first European country to introduce a law banning the import of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, a move that could send ripples across the EU and beyond.
Foreign Minister Simon Harris announced the plan on Wednesday, saying the government had already approved the framework of the bill, which will now go through further parliamentary review. Once passed, it would make bringing in products from Israeli settlements a criminal offense under Ireland’s customs law.
The law targets imports from settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which the international community widely considers illegal. Ireland says its decision was motivated by a 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which called on countries to take “effective measures” to avoid supporting settlement expansion.
“This is about standing up for international law and for human rights,” Harris told reporters. “We want to use every tool we have to push for a just and lasting peace, one that includes a future Palestinian state.”
Today Ireland becomes the first country in Europe to bring forward legislation to ban trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 24, 2025
Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza.
Every country must pull every lever at its disposal. pic.twitter.com/Z4RTjqntEY
A first in Europe
The legislation, titled The Prohibition of Importation of Goods from Israeli Settlements, will allow customs officers to search, seize, and confiscate banned goods. The government plans to rely on postal codes already used by the EU to help distinguish between Israeli products and those from settlements.
No other EU country has taken this step yet, though some have voiced support. Harris said Ireland could no longer wait for Brussels to act.
“We’ve seen enough delay,” he said. “Ireland is stepping up.”
Supporters cheer, critics push back
Supporters of the bill say it’s a long-overdue measure that reflects the views of the Irish public, many of whom have voiced strong support for the Palestinian cause in recent years, especially as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
But the move hasn’t come without controversy.
Former Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter, who is Jewish, harshly criticized the law and its acronym, PIGS, calling it offensive and accusing the government of targeting Jewish-made goods. He also claimed the bill may violate EU trade rules.
“This is a deeply flawed piece of legislation,” Shatter wrote on X. “It’s morally wrong and legally shaky.”
Israel’s government also responded with outrage. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the move “obsessive and one-sided,” accusing Ireland of turning its back on Israel during a time of serious security threats.
*With information from JPost.com
