Ireland among nine countries demanding EU discontinue trade with illegal Israeli settlements

It follows the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which clearly states that third countries must refrain from any trade or investment that helps sustain an illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Bulldozers work near the Israeli settlement of Bruchin overlooking the adjacent West Bank village of Bruqin that was under attack by Israeli settlers in May that left several burnt vehicles and damaged homes. File photo: AP/Nasser Nasser

Ireland has joined eight other countries in writing to the EU Commission demanding urgent action to "effectively discontinue" trade with illegal Israeli settlements.

It comes as Tánaiste Simon Harris is due to bring a draft scheme of the Occupied Territories Bill to Cabinet next week with the aim of having it scrutinised by politicians before the Dáil summer recess.