Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
410. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way his Department applies the whole-of-government approach regarding Ireland's policy on differentiation between Israel and the illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land; the practical steps his Department takes in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48044/23]
View answerIreland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, in line with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. This position is common across all Government Departments.
Under the EU Treaties, international trade is a competence vested in the European Commission whereby the Union's negotiating strength is as a bloc of 27 Member States representing some 450 million citizens. As a result, trade relations between the EU and Israel are governed by a Free Trade Agreement that is part of the 2000 EU-Israel Association Agreement whereby the EU and Israel have continuously worked on improving trade and economic relations.
However, as confirmed in the 2015 “Interpretative Notice on indication of origin of goods from the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967”, the European Union, in line with international law, does not recognise Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, namely the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory, irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law. Products requiring origin labelling which are produced in Israeli settlements may not carry the indication ‘product of Israel’ as settlements do not form part of Israeli territory according to international law.
