Tanaiste says EU states cannot ignore UN view on occupied territories

By David Young, PA

EU states cannot continue to ignore a landmark opinion from the UN’s top court that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal, the Tánaiste has said.

Micheál Martin was commenting after Labour party leader Ivana Bacik urged the Government to pass the stalled Occupied Territories Bill, draft legislation that would ban trade with illegal settlements in lands deemed as occupied under international law.

The Government has previously contended that the Bill would breach EU law.

However, ministers have sought fresh advice on the position in the wake of a non-binding advisory opinion handed down by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the summer that declared that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal under international law.

Ms Bacik raised the issue as she condemned the Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

“This is yet another example of Israel’s continuing spreading of mayhem, of war, of destruction, of civilian deaths and casualties across the region,” she said.

She added: “It’s outrageous that Israel continues to act with apparent impunity, targeting civilians, now it seems firing on peacekeepers, we know there’s already been unprecedented levels of deaths, of UN aid workers, of children, of journalists under fire from Israel.”

Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Ms Bacik implored Mr Martin to drop the Government block on the Occupied Territories Bill.

Mr Martin said the advisory opinion of the ICJ had “very significant implications” for EU member states.

“I think the advisory opinion is important, and I think it’s important in the context of the Occupied Territories Bill, and we are awaiting further advices from the Attorney General, which I expect we’ll get shortly, in respect of both the Bill itself, but also the impact of the ICJ, because the ICJ places obligations on states in respect of the occupation, and that nothing can be done that would in any way aid or support the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories,” he said.

“And I think that creates, in my view, a context in which we must look at this.”

The Tánaiste said he had already instructed the Department of Defence not to purchase any equipment from Israel in light of the ICJ opinion.

“I think it has very significant implications for all of the European member states,” he added.

“I don’t think Europe can ignore the implications of the ICJ advisory opinion any further.”