Tánaiste vows to progress the Occupied Territories Bill 'within weeks'

Simon Harris (pictured) said he met with senator Frances Black, who drafted the original Occupied Territories Bill, and plans to speak with her again next week with a full timeline of when the legislation can be implemented. File picture

Tánaiste Simon Harris is to write to the EU Commission demanding a review of the trade agreement with Israel and has vowed to press ahead with the Occupied Territories Bill "within weeks".

Promising to progress the Bill, Mr Harris said he met with senator Frances Black, who drafted the original Occupied Territories Bill, and plans to speak with her again next week with a full timeline of when the legislation can be implemented.

He now wants to seek Cabinet permission to draft the Bill that would ban the importation of goods from illegal Israeli settlements "very quickly".

"I'd like to do it within weeks and I'd like to do it before the summer recess," he said. "I do intend, as the responsible minister, to honour the programme for government commitment in terms of legislating in relation to trade with the occupied Palestinian territories."

He added that there is "no reason" why the Government and opposition parties cannot "move together" and work constructively on a bill.

While the Government here will continue to take action through the Occupied Territories Bill and other measures, Mr Harris has said pressure must be put on Israel at European level to have real impact.

"How much worse does it have to get for the European Union?

"The actions that have been announced by the Israeli government in relation to Gaza are going to cause the scale of further catastrophe that is almost unimaginable in terms of the impact on civilians. 

What the Israeli government is proposing, is sickening, is despicable, is a clear breach of international law, and does, of course, constitute a war crime.

The Netherlands has added its voice in calling on Europe to review its relationship with Israel in light of the ongoing blockade stopping food and other humanitarian aid getting into Gaza, and Mr Harris is now seeking further support from "like minded" countries.

"I intend to continue to work in the hours and days ahead to see if more countries at an EU level, in light of this latest horrific situation, are now willing to finally step up and say that human rights clauses in agreements between the European Union and others matter, and therefore there does need to be an action taken at an EU level that isn't just about words or expressions of outrage.

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"I hope other countries that are like-minded in relation to the situation, like Slovenia, like Luxembourg, may also be willing to give consideration to this. I want to speak to counterparts in other countries that have been very strong in their support, not just for Palestine, but their support for international law and their support for human rights. 

"So I do intend to continue to work at a European level, because that's the most impactful way," Mr Harris said adding that he plans to write to the commission on the matter.