CNN
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Ireland appears closer to passing a bill that would ban trade with Israeli illegal settlements in occupied territory in the West Bank, sparking sharp criticism from U.S. officials who suggest the move could damage Dublin's ties with Washington.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee accused Ireland of strong condemnation of the draft legislation, citing derogatory stereotypes from the Irish people.
Heckabee said in an article on X: “Did the Irish fall into the Guinness barrel and ask such a stupid thing to attribute it to the act of diplomatic poisoning? It would hurt the Arabs just as Israelis.
Huckabee's comments were discussed after the pre-legislative review meeting held by the Irish Foreign Affairs and Trade Commission this week, which was supported by support from Palestinian legislators and campaigners, as well as criticism from several Jewish organizations and some from the Jewish community.
CNN has commented with the Irish Foreign Ministry regarding Huckabee's position.
Taoiseach or Prime Minister Micheál Martin is clearly an attempt to divert criticism, saying the enactment of the bill would be “largely symbolic” because it aims to put pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war.
“This is an element of the government's approach to devastating violence and shocking humanitarian situations in Gaza and the West Bank,” Martin said in April.
On Monday, Maurice Cohen, president of the Irish Jewish Council, called the bill a “conduct of misleading efforts.”
“This won't bring the two states closer, but it may further promote fear and isolation in Ireland,” Cohen said.
Republican Senator Lindsay Graham also weighed the bill, and on Tuesday he hoped “Ireland will reconsider their efforts to isolate Israel economically.”
“I don't think these efforts will be well received in the United States, and they certainly won't be overlooked,” Graham said on X.
If legislation of Bill 2025 (Israel's Palestinian Territory (prohibited imports) is passed in OIREACHTAS or Parliament in Ireland, this would mark the first time that such laws were enacted by EU member states. The bill was first submitted in 2018 and has been restored since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, since the Israeli military campaign was held in Gaza. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Israel's reconciliation policy and exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory violate international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the International Court of Justice a “decision of lies”.
In the majority of Irish society and politics, solidarity with the cause of Palestinian has long been established, and many in Ireland have identified the common historical experience of conquering the occupying powers.
Ireland became the first EU member state to call for the Palestinian state in 1980, which achieved its official recognition of the Palestinian state in May 2024.
Israel closed its embassy in Dublin in December 2024, with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accusing Ireland of “extreme anti-Israel policy.”
Ireland has long rejected any anti-Israel charges. PM Simon Harris, then-responsible, said in response to the closure of the Israeli embassy: “Ireland is interpersonal relationships, relative rights and pro-international law.”
“Ireland wants to adopt a two-state solution and allow Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security. Ireland will always speak for human rights and international law. Nothing will be distracting,” he said.
CNN's Kathleen Magramo and Eugenia Yosef contributed the report.