The Palestinian ambassador to Ireland has said she is still optimistic about a proposed ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. The government had signalled before Christmas that the Occupied Territories Bill would be passed when amendments are made to make the draft law as watertight as possible, as it is likely to be legally challenged if enacted.
After the Christmas break, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said it would propose fresh legislation, claiming the bill was “unconstitutional” and “deficient” in some areas. The bill aims to ban trade, of both goods and services, with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
Asked about the suggestion of new legislation while speaking at an event at the University of Galway, Palestinian Ambassador Dr Jilan Abdalmajid said she was “still optimistic” it would be enacted. She said that the review of the bill the government began, after a decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July last year, was “a very, very good and strong move”.
“I’m still optimistic that it will be enacted here. “I’m optimistic about this because the change of the government position towards this is very positive and in the right way,” she said. Speaking about the Palestinian cause, Ms Abdalmajid said they need to make “a huge effort to make the people listen to you”, Ireland excluded.
