Renewed political pressure to expand opposition to Israeli assault on Gaza

The Government is facing renewed political pressure to expand its legal and political opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza, even as it moved ahead with legislation banning trade with the Occupied Territories.

Tánaiste Simon Harris secured Cabinet approval to begin drafting the legislation on Tuesday, saying he hoped other European Union countries would join Ireland in banning trade from the illegally occupied areas.

But there was criticism of the pace with which the Bill is expected to proceed through the Oireachtas, as well as its scope.

Labour Party TD Duncan Smith said he is “utterly angered at the fact that it still seems it will be autumn at the earliest before it will be brought into law”.

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He said it should be prioritised and the Committee on Foreign Affairs should “sit as quickly and as often as is necessary to get it into the Dáil and through the Seanad and done before the summer recess”.

Mr Harris’s spokesman said the Tánaiste would be open to the Dáil continuing to sit during the summer recess to debate the Occupied Territories Bill, adding that he would be guided by the recommendation of the Oireachtas committee.

The Coalition indicated on Tuesday that it was unlikely to include trade in services in its Bill, which is being sought by the Opposition and by Independent Senator Frances Black, who drafted the first Bill in the area seven years ago.

A Government spokesman said it was not proposed to regulate trade in services “at this time”, arguing that the basis in EU law for such a move is “much weaker than is the case in the field of goods trade”. The Coalition said it will take into account recommendations on this front that arise during prelegislative scrutiny.

Ms Black said the decision today by Government is a “really important and welcome step, but our work is not done yet”.

“We need to see a full ban on all trade with the illegal Israeli settlements, which includes both physical goods like fruit and veg, but also intangible services like tech and IT,” she said.

Opposition parties are also pursuing other avenues to increase pressure on the Government to act, with left-wing parties due to combine in support of a Sinn Féin Bill yesterday evening that would restrict the sale of Israeli government bonds through the Irish financial system.

Sinn Féin has cited advice given to it by legal advisers to the Oireachtas which suggested such a move could be possible with the appropriate safeguards in place.

However, ahead of a debate on the motion scheduled for Tuesday evening, the Government dismissed the move, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin describing it as “completely unworkable” and incompatible with EU law.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald rejected this analysis as “utterly cynical and bogus”.

The Government says Israeli bonds are not listed on the Irish Stock Exchange nor available to purchase through any regulated entity in the State.

“The Bill is asking for an activity that does not take place here to be terminated,” a Coalition spokesman said, adding that preliminary advice from the Attorney General suggests “key provisions may be unworkable and may conflict with EU treaties and our obligations as a member state”.

“Importantly, this Bill does not prevent Israel from raising money by selling bonds.”

The Labour Party, meanwhile, is preparing a motion for next week to mandate the Taoiseach to move a motion at the UN seeking an international peacekeeping force for Gaza.

The Coalition has indicated it will not oppose the motion, with a spokesman saying it welcomes the approach “as one that favours multilateralism, and the pursuit of peace and security”, adding that the “urgency of the need for peace could not be clearer”.