CNN
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Ireland is approaching passing a bill banning illegal Israeli settlements in occupied areas on the West Bank, causing incisive criticism from US officials who made the move that could harm Dublin’s relations with Washington.
Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee on Tuesday denounced Ireland as a “diplomatic addiction” for the sharp responsibilities of Irish bills, evoking the diplomatic stereotypes of Irish people.
“Did Ireland fall into the Guinness terribly at, and suggested something stupid enough to be attributed to the act of diplomatic addiction? It would hurt the Arabs as much as the Israelis.
Huckabee’s comments come after the Irish Foreign Affairs and Trade Commission held a positive scrutiny meeting this week, and discussed the bill that has garnered support from criticism from Palestinian lawmakers, campaigners and several Jewish organizations.
CNN contacted the Irish Foreign Office to comment on Huckabee’s post.
In an obvious attempt to divert criticism, Mishal Martin, Taoizech or the Prime Minister said the legislation was “mainly symbolic.”
“This is one of the factors in the government’s approach to catastrophic violence and the horrifying humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank,” Martin said in April.
On Monday, Maurice Cohen, chairman of Ireland’s Jewish Council, called the bill a “false effort performance.”
“It won’t bring the two provinces closer, but it could put the Jewish community here in Ireland into even more fear and isolation,” Cohen said.
Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham also shaved the bill and said on Tuesday he hopes “Ireland will reconsider their efforts to isolate Israel economically.”
“I don’t think these efforts are well received in the US and they certainly won’t be noticed,” Graham told X.
Law – Israeli settlement of occupied Palestinian territory (prohibition of import of goods) Bill 2025 – If there is a passage in Ireland or in Parliament, it will show that this is the first time a member of the European Union has enacted such a law. The bill was first introduced in 2018 and has regained momentum since Israel’s highly destructive military campaign in Gaza following the attack on Hamas on October 7, 2023. More than 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has stated that Israel’s settlement policy and the exploitation of natural resources in occupied Palestinian territory violates international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the ICJ’s ruling a “false decision.”
Solidarity with the Palestinian cause has been around for many years across most of Irish society and politics, with many of Ireland identifying a common historical experience of conquest by the occupying nations.
Ireland became the first EU member state to seek a Palestinian state in 1980, and was realized in May 2024 with the official recognition of the Palestinian state.
Israel closed its embassy in Dublin in December 2024, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sarle denounced Ireland as “extreme anti-Israel policy.”
Ireland has long rejected the accusation of it being anti-Israel. “Ireland is a pro-human rights, an international law,” said PM Simon Harris at the time in response to the closure of the Israeli embassy.
“Ireland wants a solution for two states, and Israel and Palestine want to live in peace and security. Ireland will always speak up for human rights and international law. And then nothing distracts,” he said.
Kathleen produces the contributions of Eugenia Joseph.
