US Ambassador Tells Ireland to ‘Sober Up’ Over Occupied Territories Bill
Image: Mike Huckabee via X
US Ambassador Tells Ireland to ‘Sober Up’ Over Occupied Territories Bill
Text: Izzy Copestake
“Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness?”
The US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has lashed out at the Irish government over its proposed legislation to ban trade of goods with illegal Israeli settlements, calling it an “act of diplomatic intoxication.” His remarks come as Ireland’s long-debated Occupied Territories Bill to prohibit imports from Israeli settlements moves into the pre-legislative stage, reigniting international scrutiny.
“Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness & propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to act of diplomatic intoxication? “It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up Ireland!”, he posted on X.
The bill in question seeks to ban the importation of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, areas widely considered illegal under international law. This legislation represents Ireland’s commitment to upholding human rights and international justice, challenging the ongoing occupation and settlement expansion.
However, some members of the US government do not see it this way – particularly as the biggest sponsor of Israel’s military operations. US Republican senator Lindsey Graham warned the bill “would not be well received” in the US and accused Ireland of trying to “economically isolate Israel.” Congressman Pete Stauber went further, calling the move “antisemitic” and claiming it would have “serious ramifications for American businesses.”
Mike Huckabee’s comments are offensive not just for their tone, but for the harmful stereotypes they invoke. By suggesting Ireland had “fallen into a vat of Guinness” and calling the proposed legislation an “act of diplomatic intoxication,” he draws on long-standing colonial tropes that have historically been used to demean the Irish as irrational and drunk. These stereotypes were a key part of British imperial propaganda and continue to carry weight as tools of dismissal and ridicule. Huckabee’s remark doesn’t just trivialise a serious, legally grounded effort to uphold international law, it also disrespects Ireland’s sovereignty and reinforces a legacy of condescension toward smaller nations that challenge powerful interests.
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