The new Irish government will not promote a bill against Israeli products manufactured beyond the Green Line, including east Jerusalem, but would seek to have the EU take an “appropriate response” if Israel were to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria under the newly released White House peace plan.
The move to avoid legislation against settlement products was revealed after a new government was formed. The bill was originally promoted by pro-Palestinians groups in the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.
The Fianna Fáil party promised in its manifesto that it would seek such a measure, to the point of imposing heavy fines on those who sell products from Jewish communities beyond the Green Line and a potential prison sentence of five years.
The bill passed several readings in both chambers of parliament, but Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has opposed the bill because it violated EU trade rules.
