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THE IRISH AMBASSADOR to Israel has been summoned by the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu after a bill was tabled in the Seanad which would prevent trade in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The Private Member’s Bill has been tabled by Independent Senator Frances Black, who said it “seeks to prohibit the import and sales of goods, services and natural resources originating in illegal settlements in occupied territories”.
However, the Israeli Embassy in Ireland has slammed the bill, saying that it “only offers an incentive to those who wish to boycott Israel and stands in stark contrast to the guiding principles of free trade and justice”.
Netanyahu has instructed that the Ambassador of Ireland in Israel be summoned to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the bill.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has previously said that the relentless expansion of Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory “is unjust, provocative and undermines the credibility of Israel’s commitment to a peaceful solution to the conflict”.
In a statement in November, Coveney said: “The introduction and settlement of communities of the occupying power, to alter the demography of the area is unambiguously illegal under international law”.
It’s understood he made similar comments when reacting to Black’s Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018.
RTÉ is reporting that Coveney said that he recommended that the Government oppose the Bill.
He said Ireland’s approach on the Middle East must be reassessed constantly.
Coveney said that his view was Ireland’s approach in our efforts to negotiate a two-state solution that is fair to both sides should be focused on intensive diplomacy and on straight blunt discussion.
In the Seanad, Black said that, at its core, the legislation is about “respect of international law and standing up for the rights of vulnerable people”.
“It is a chance for Ireland to state strongly that it does not support the illegal confiscation of land and the human suffering that inevitably results,” she said.
Black agreed to the adjournment of the Bill.
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Fully completed early 2020?? Another year of it. Soul destroying every day
@Brian Dunne: The main work on the M7 is due to finish in 4 weeks. The rest if the work is mainly around the Sallins bypass and the new junction 10 exits
These boys would have it knocked out and be home within the first night…. https://youtu.be/KrPgXYrNGG4
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: except the video says it took them 21 days, and the chaos caused by trying to get 200 excavators up the N7?
Surely an early April Fools joke? 25km/h is a ridiculously slow speed
@Stingray Jones: it is to do with worker safety.
@Stingray Jones: advisory only… Not enforced… Limit is still 60 km/h
@Finbarr Barry: from the article ‘speed limit in force of 25km/hr’. Key words being limit and force, but hey, it’s your speeding ticket
@Vocal Outrage: Gardai said in yesterdays article it’s not enforceable but is advisory.
@Ian Breathnach: about 2 years ago there were roadworks near where I lived, 50km/hr limit during works, temporarily dropped under an advisory limit to 25km/hr for 2 weekends, I got the ticket doing 40km/hr. Strangely enough the judge didn’t agree with your logic of it being un-enforceable, although, he didn’t increase the fine or points
@Vocal Outrage: doubt you went to court as there must be a bye law to prosecute… Advisable speed limits do not have bye laws enacted
@Finbarr Barry: if not enforceable you could still be done for dangerous driving
@Finbarr Barry: ah, so you counter-argument is to simply call me a liar, very mature. Perhaps, just perhaps, you don’t understand the law as well as you think?
Ah here
@kokonutter: i agree
Are some speed freaks (being polite) here seriously suggesting they want to barrel through busy roadworks ?
25 km/h is an advisory… The speed limit is still 60 km/h
@Finbarr Barry: are you sure though? the traffic is getting diverted off onto sliproads &even on motorways sliproads have 50km /h speed limits.so 25 on a sliproad with roadworks going on sounds about right
@Dean Anderson: The Minister for Transport issued a direction to road authorities under section 95(16) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 in February 2007 with respect to a range of non-regulatory traffic signs. Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual was superseded by an updated version which allowed for the erection of signage stating a cautionary speed limit in the vicinity of Road Works. These speed limits are purposely different from legal speed limits and always display a speed limit that ends in 5, for example 35 km/h (22 mph), 45 km/h (28 mph), etc. They are not legally binding on drivers but it is likely that in the event of a road traffic accident that the issue of if they were being complied with, would be taken into account.
@Finbarr Barry: again, use of the word limit, it would be termed something like maximum advisory speed, but a limit is just that, a limit
No diversion in place this morning at 4am when I travelled that stretch. Sailed through it.
have your say