RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – The Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) chief on Wednesday hailed Irish senate vote which imposed a ban on imports of products from territories occupied by Israel.
In a statement, Saeb Erekat, the secretary-general of the PLO, said the law is “consistent to values and principles of the Ireland and its historical support to right and justice “.
The Irish Senate voted 25-20 to advance a bill that would criminalize trade with Israeli settlement, including the ones built in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.
“The Irish Senate has sent a clear message to the international community that talking about a two-state solution is not enough without taking concrete measures on the ground, ” Erekat said.
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its part, slammed the vote, saying it has supported “populist, dangerous and extremist” anti-Israel boycott initiative.
“It is an anti-Israel boycott initiative that hurts the chances of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians,” it said in a statement.
According to the draft law import or attempt to import from settlement would be committing a crime punishable with up to five years in prison or 250 thousand Euros fine.
