Ireland has become the first European Union member state to pass legislation banning imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, marking a major challenge to Israel's illegal settlement enterprise.
The law prohibits goods produced in settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and is widely seen as the first EU measure to implement last year's International Court of Justice advisory opinion, which found Israel's occupation unlawful and called on states not to assist it.
The move comes as Ireland has taken an increasingly firm stance on Israel, recognizing the State of Palestine, calling for stronger EU action, and sanctioning Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
While welcomed by Palestinian officials and rights groups, some campaigners said the legislation falls short because it bans only goods, not services linked to Israeli settlements.
This law sets a precedent that could encourage other European governments to follow suit.
