Key points
- US pressure linked to bill softening
- Presidential frontrunner backs Palestine solidarity
- Concerns raised over corporate influence
DUBLIN: The leading contender to become Ireland’s next president has criticised the government for failing to act on proposed legislation aimed at sanctioning Israeli settlements, in protest against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.
Catherine Connolly, an independent left-wing member of parliament supported by the main opposition party Sinn Féin, urged the government in Dublin not to succumb to pressure from major American companies by diluting the bill to only limit a small volume of trade in goods, excluding services, reports Reuters.
She made her remarks prior to US President Donald Trump announcing that Israel and Hamas had agreed a ceasefire deal and a release of hostages, as part of his plan to end the two-year conflict in the Palestinian territory.
“We cannot allow the government to fail the Palestinian people on this,” she told the media, accusing the centre-right coalition parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of “dragging their feet.”
Capitulation to corporate interests
“I will continue to press for the occupied territories bill to include services, as it was always intended,” Connolly said, describing any restriction to goods alone as an “appalling capitulation to corporate interests” and an “unforgivable betrayal.”
Although the Irish presidency is largely ceremonial, the president can still exert influence over the government, including the power to refer legislation to the Supreme Court to assess its constitutionality – a power that is seldom exercised.
Connolly currently leads opinion polls ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 24 October.
Her sentiments were echoed by Frances Black, an independent senator who originally introduced the legislation seven years ago, aiming to impose sanctions related to Israeli settlements.
Warnings of retaliation from American lawmakers
“The government needs to be … strong on this. They need to be courageous. It’s absolutely vital that we have goods and services on the bill,” Black told the media. “We need to match our words with action.”
The Irish government has declined to issue a comment.
For the past year, Ireland has been working towards implementing sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements, a move that has drawn criticism from Israel, lobbying organisations representing international firms, and warnings of retaliation from American lawmakers.
Earlier in the week, a group of US legislators wrote to Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, asserting that passing the bill could harm US-Irish relations and affect American businesses operating in Ireland.
