Occupied Territories Bill Comes Into Effect

The Government says the move should now be followed by action across the European Union.

A ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories has come into effect.

The Government says the move should now be followed by action across the European Union.

The new law means importing goods originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is now a customs offence.

The legislation was signed into law by President Catherine Connolly in July and takes effect from today.

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee says Ireland can be proud to have led the way alongside Spain.

She says growing settlement activity and violence in the West Bank underline the need for further action.

However opposition parties have previously hit out, at what they called a watered down version of the original bill published by senator Francis Black.

They've argued that it should also go as far as to include services, as well as goods.

Minister McEntee is now urging the European Commission to bring forward proposals for an EU-wide ban on trade with Israeli settlements - Something Germany has previously said it has no interest in.