Mick Clifford: Ireland must pass the Occupied Territories Bill despite the likely Trump reaction

All too often western democracies like ours hold noses and look away from severe human rights abuses in pursuit of our own economic interests. We must not do this when it comes to the war in Gaza, writes Mick Clifford

Since the war in Gaza began after the Hamas attack, Israeli settlers have used the distraction to increase attacks on native Palestinians in the West Bank. Photo: AP/Hussein Malla

Alan Shatter may well see his recommendation favourably received by Donald Trump. Mr Shatter, a former Minister for Justice, believes the US president should reconsider inviting the Taoiseach to the White House on St Patrick’s Day. 

Any such move would be a blow to this country’s economic and possibly cultural interests. But Mr Shatter is of the opinion that Ireland is now acting against American interests due to an “unrelenting hostility” towards Israel and “peculiar” support for Iran, as reported in Wednesday’s Irish Examiner.