Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem
Foreign Ministry in JerusalemFlash 90

The Foreign Ministry summoned the Irish ambassador to Israel, Alison Kelly, following the passage of a BDS bill by the Irish Senate. Ambassador Kelley will be reprimanded by the ministry.

The so-called "Occupied Territories Bill" outlaws the trade of goods from Judea and Samaria and imposes prison sentences and heavy fines on those who do not comply with the law.

Jerusalem is awaiting the return of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from Russia before holding a meeting on taking further steps against the Irish move.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry issued a response to the Irish decision saying that "the Irish Senate has given its hand to an aggressive, dangerous and radical populist anti-Israel boycott initiative that undermines prospects for a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians."

"The absurdity in the course of the Irish Senate is that the boycott will harm the livelihood of many Palestinians working in the Israeli industrial zones affected by the boycott, and Israel will consider its steps in accordance with the developments in this legislation," the Foreign Ministry said.

The law in question does not specifically mention Israel, but states that all products originating in occupied territory must be confiscated.

However, lawmakers in Ireland who were asked to explain the question explained that this is a law that targets a target of "Judea and Samaria".

According to the bill, buying goods from "occupied territories" will be considered a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 250,000 euros.

The Irish attorney general said that he would find it difficult to defend the law from a legal point of view, since it contradicts the EU constitution, according to which a single state has no authority to determine with whom it conducts trade and who does not.