ISRAEL’S ALLIES IN the United States are trying to influence Ireland not to pass the Occupied Terrirories Bill, arguing it would “economically target” and “demonise” the Israeli state.

In a letter to Taoiseach Micheál Martin signed by 23 members of congress, they said they were “deeply concerned” about Ireland’s characterisation of Israel’s actions in Palestine as genocide.

The backlash is unsurprising to Martin, who said he expected the Americans to disagree.

The Occupied Terrritories Bill, which would criminalise importing goods from illegal Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land, has been slowly making its way through the Oireachtas.

If passed, the members of Congress say the Bill would amount to “singling out Israel”, making it a “pariah” on the world stage.

They also take issue with Ireland’s involvement in a case at the International Court of Justice, where Israel stands accused of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

They say these actions are fuelling “anti-semitic and anti-Zionist sentiment”.

Zionism refers to the ideology that Jewish people are entitled to an independent Jewish state, specifically on lands in the Middle East, which they’re told in ancient religious texts were promised to them.

Furthermore the members of congress say the Bill would put American companies operating in Ireland in “an impossible legal position”, as it would conflict with anti-boycott laws in the US.

It’s not the first attempt by American politicians to sway Ireland’s stance on Israel’s actions.

As far as the Taoiseach is concerned, Ireland won’t back down.

Speaking to The Journal last year, Martin said the US embassy had previously expressed concern over the ban, but that Ireland was clear in its position on the matter.

He said: “I had already made the decision, prior to that communication. I was aware of that it’s not a new concern [from the US]. That’s been there a long time.

“It’s not a surprise that the US Embassy would communicate that, they communicated that five or six years ago, and that’s been a standard position.

“Our position is that it relates to the Occupied Territories, not to Israel. And that might be a point of difference in the US, because, in the US, people might look at it differently – but we have a very clear view of it here.”

With reporting by Christina Finn