Recognition of Palestine is only the first step.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has declared that Israel’s settlement policies and exploitation of natural resources in Palestinian territories violate international law. Since Ireland’s recognition of Palestine in May, calls have intensified from Irish activist groups to bring the Occupied Territories Bill into law.

The bill would outlaw and criminalise “trade with and economic support for illegal settlements in territories deemed occupied under international law”. However, On April 6th this year, members of Fine Gael voted down a motion calling for the Occupied Territories bill to be enacted. The bill passed in the Seanad in December 2018 despite government opposition and moved to the second stage in the Dáil in January 2019, where Fianna Fáil and some Independent Alliance members abstained from voting. Fine Gael have consistently opposed the bill, with then-Tánaiste Simon Coveney citing advice from the Attorney General as the reason for his lack of support.

The International Court of Justice recent declaration on Israel’s illegal settlement policies has shown it might be time for Ireland to reconsider the Occupied Territories Bill. Although ICJ rulings are not binding, they hold significant weight under international law. ICJ President Nawaf Salam stated that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are maintained in violation of international law, and Israel’s practices amount to annexation of large parts of these territories. The court called for an end to Israel’s presence in the territories “as rapidly as possible” and highlighted systematic discrimination against Palestinians, urging Israel to make reparations.

Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, praised the ruling as “historic” and “significant,” emphasizing that it shows the unlawfulness of the Israeli occupation. She mentioned plans to discuss further steps with the ICJ and the UN. The court’s opinion responds to a UN General Assembly resolution from December 2022, which requested an examination of Israel’s prolonged occupation and settlement activities and their impact on Palestinian self-determination. Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza since 1967, marking the world’s longest military occupation in modern history.

Despite the recent ruling, the Occupied Territories Bill has still not been enacted. Upon recognising the State of Palestine in May, Taoiseach Simon Harris stated that “There is also no future in the extremist version of Zionism that fuels settler violence and illegal appropriation of land in the West Bank” and the move was hailed as a historic step for Ireland. Two months on, it’s fair to question the significance of Ireland’s recognition of Palestine has had. The Occupied Territories Bill is a genuine step Ireland can take in condemning the ongoing mass killing of Palestinians in the West Bank by the Israeli Military and consistent breaches of international law.

Elsewhere on District: Direct Action Works: Trinity’s Pro-Palestine Encampment is Proof