Senior ministers concerned about effects of Occupied Territories Bill.

the fact is, ireland is correct on it's stance in relation to israel.
israel isnot and actually never has been our friend, they have attacked our troops on a few occasions, they have used our passports to do god knows what.
there are not going to be any consequences or issues for us because of our stance, any issues we may have will be to do with trump's america first policy which is happening even if there had been no genocide in gaza.

the only potential issue with this bill is enforcement as someone else pointed out, how can we know for sure if the produce is from the palestinian west bank which is under illegal occupation when it will just be marked as made in israel.

Some years ago wasn't President Morales of Bolivia's plane forced to land in Vienna on some spurious pretext, and flight over various European countries denied.

This precedent surely allows us to force any plane carrying anyone wanted for war crimes to land, even on suspicion of Nathan yahoo or Gallant being aboard. Hopefully this will be extended to various others complicit in war crimes or genocide, as well as their enablers such as Blinken and others in the US administration.

Do you think that there is an EU directive specifically permitting trade in the spoils of the illegal possession of immovable property?

The correct question to ask is whether there is an EU Directive permitting a derogation from EU Trade Policy to allow for an OTB?

So generally speaking you are saying Palestinians want to annihilate Israelis? Wow, no civilians in Gaza then.

Does that ultra violent terrorist sentiment hold true for Israelis, generally speaking too, or do you just know the minds of one side?

And I don't mean to argue, I'm sure you are an expert on it, sure you want to annihilate the British

What do you think we will do? Send up the Irish Air Force fighters to force an Israeli jet down?

At least some of the thread is good for a laugh.

It has been routine on this thread to equate those who oppose an OTB as being supporters of Netanyahu. Just over an hour ago, you were at that yourself

No I wasn't? There was a video on the post I replied to, and the bit I saw (where the poster had started the stream) the OTB wasn't mentioned at all, just the common rhetoric of Ireland being the land of saints and anti semites i.e - another bit of propaganda bashing Ireland.

I have no problem with anyone who criticises the OTB for legitimate reasons and concerns and like hearing other pov's - but using racism, prejudice and ignorance of a people who are suffering ethnic cleansing isn't a valid pov for me.

I certainly believe that there are posters on here who are what we would call in Ireland - sneaking regarders - when it comes to Hamas. They won't openly admit their support for Hamas, and its oppressive, anti-semitic, racist, misogynistic actions but they are secretly cheering it on

I have no doubt that is what you believe, but I haven't seen any evidence of it. I have seen plenty of evidence of extreme ignorance, verging on pure hatred for Palestinians and Muslims in general, for the side who claim they support Israel. I don't notice you being so quick to route that one out.

There is also a common tactic, which you are guilty of, of making up a point of view that nobody has, and then arguing about it again and again, and then expecting people to somehow comment on it or try to defend it. But really, you are only arguing with yourself.

It's actually a lot simpler than this……stick Paddy in Palestine for a week and then in Israel for a week and ask Paddy where he'd like to stay…

I never claimed Israel were us, or like us. But when you look at our laws and feelings and views and freedoms and liberties, I'd say Paddy would much much more prefer to live among Jews in Israel compared to living amongst Palestinians

Better still, stick Patricia in either and I'D know well where she'd want to stay

The first thing I notice is that you have changed the subject and ignored every single point I made above. This is a well-known debating tactic by Israel's supporters. So let me begin by stating that Israelis have very little in common with Irish people that we wouldn't have with any other group in a first world country, or anyone middlingly well off in any country anywhere, and given their highly militarised society, intolerance of outsiders and difference, most Israelis would be quite far down the list of groups we share commonalities with.

Neither Paddy nor Patricia (how condescending of you to use those names) would want to stay in Israel, if the views of that guy in the video in post 477 are in any way typical; and given how sensitive Israelis are to the slightest query about them or their state, I'd say Israel would be very uncomfortable for any Irish person. Possibly less dangerous than Gaza or the West Bank for the Irish person walking down the street with his mouth closed - but once they know where you're from that could change.

neither hamas or israel are our friends.
as far as i can see neither side are close to us in terms of laws, culture and how they treat minorities.
but that's ultimately irrelevant as right is right and wrong is wrong.
the genocide in the gaza territory of palestine is wrong and the ethnic cleansing in the west bank territory of palestine is wrong.
standing against israel who are guilty of both wrong doings is right and supporting economic and other sanctions to force them back within their borders is right, just and correct.

A fair few jewish sects are much the same.

By the way, are there still bus companies in Israel that oblige women to sit in the back? like the Negroes in the US used to have to.

Please don't compare the average Israeli with Irish people, their values are quite different despite Tel Aviv have a few gay clubs and a couple of gay and nudist beaches.

I knew I’d get this.. but it doesn’t answer the question. Removing the situation in the region.. I reckon Paddy lasts a lot longer under Israeli life

Yup, I gave a sneery answer to the question because

A. I haven't a clue

B. it's irrelevant.

I do not have to like, or know about, the Palestinian culture to be disgusted that civilian men women and children are being blown up and starved. I have frequently said on this site I've never met an Israeli or a Palestinian, I couldn't tell you the difference between them and couldn't care less.

I couldn't tell you what the difference between Judaism and Islam is either, but the last place I'll listen to it is from dumbasses (not you) on the internet who pull out a passage from the Koran and say "that's what they really think", or try and paint 2 billion people as a hive mind who are all barbarians and out to bring down the west.

Are there terrorists in there? Yea. We have some ultra bad c*unts operating in the west too, I wouldn't want one of my kids to be blown up because of it, and have the world ignore it or try to justify it because c*nts exist.

Talk about digging!!!

You seem to think, like some freeman of the land thinking, that just because some international organisation has decided that Israeli's occupation is illegal, that that somehow imposes an obligation on Ireland to act unilaterally to ban goods from that territory. That is some logical leap without any basis in reality.

When this is pointed out, you reduce it to a personal attack on me.