‘Delay tactics’ being used on trade ban on illegal Israeli settlements – Senator

The Irish government is using “delay tactics” in relation to a proposed ban on trade from illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands, according to a senator.

The Government has committed to enacting its own version of the 2018 Occupied Territories Bill, which banned trade from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill is listed under “priority publication” in the Government’s spring legislative programme.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said in early March that the Bill “could well be” completed before the summer and said the Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee had “gone back with further questions and queries” to the Attorney General on the Bill.

Independent Senator Frances Black, who proposed the well-known 2018 bill, has met several times with the Foreign Affairs Minister about the government’s proposed ban.

She has said previously she would support the government’s legislation if it is not watered down, and said she was concerned that they would not impose a ban on services to Ireland from illegal Israeli settlements.

On Tuesday, she said she believes the Government is using delay tactics on the proposed ban.

Ms Black was speaking while supporting the Arms Embargo Bill along with Senator Alice Mary Higgins, which looks to restrict military-related flights travelling through Ireland to Israel.

“The meeting I had with the minister was (where) she said she was going back again for more advice to the Attorney General,” she told the Press Association.

“I feel this is delay tactics, I’ll be honest, I’m concerned.

“I’m waiting to hear back what the next group of questions was to the Attorney General, because initially, the Attorney General has said that we can do this.

“In fact, we are legally obliged to pass this Bill. The ICC (International Criminal Court) have said this – every country is legally obliged to pass this Bill.

“We also saw that the foreign affairs committee, that Alice Mary is on, unanimously have said that we can do this.

“So I don’t know what more questions, this second or third time they’ve gone back to the Attorney General, personally, I believe it’s delay tactics. We need to get this Bill passed as soon as possible.”

Ms Higgins said the Arms Embargo Bill, which previously passed second and committee stage, will be returning to the Seanad for report and final stage on Wednesday.

Ms Higgins said Ireland was “lagging behind” on restricting weapons being sent to Israel and said it was “time for Ireland to step up and take action”, while Ms Black said the Bill makes “modest” demands and should be “uncontroversial”.

“Slovenia has brought restrictions on the transit of arms, Spain has brought an arms embargo, France and Canada have also announced restrictions on the transit of arms to Israel in light of their ongoing appalling breaches of international law,” Ms Higgins said.

“It really is time for Ireland to step up and take action.”

The Bill would restrict the transport minister from granting exemptions to flights travelling through Ireland carrying munitions, where there is a risk they will be sent to Israel or a country that exports weapons to Israel.

It also aims to strengthen existing powers to inspect planes seeking military exemptions to transit through the State.

Ms Higgins said that every plane landing in Ireland under a military exemption would be subject to checks.

“We are frustrated, as I think many others are, at the failure to move away from the ‘eyes wide shut’ policy in relation to the transit of arms, of weapons and of the technologies of war through Irish airports and through Irish airspace,” she said.

“So this Bill, when we bring it through, would mean that you could not give exemptions – and thousands of exemptions are being given – there would be no exemptions for flights that are directly or indirectly transiting weapons, munitions or the technologies of war.

“The Bill would also require that we start doing inspections, that we move from zero inspections to inspecting those who are seeking these exemptions, so we know exactly what was happening.

“This Bill would now introduce the power to give a direction to land in relation to a flight where there’s a reason to believe that it’s in breach – in terms of carrying weapons and ammunition – without the proper permission.”