Overview

• A bipartisan group of 16 Congress members led by Rep. Claudia Tenney asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to designate Ireland as boycotting Israel if its bill passes under US anti-discrimination law.
• The letter frames Ireland’s proposed Occupied Territories Bill as aligned with the global BDS movement and cautions it would create legal risks for American businesses.
• Ireland plans to introduce the Israeli Settlements Prohibition of Importation of Goods Bill in the Oireachtas this autumn, extending the ban to both goods and services from territories under Israeli administration.
• Tánaiste Simon Harris affirmed the government will advance the bill despite US objections, accusing critics of misrepresenting Ireland’s stance and noting similar EU actions in Slovenia and Belgium.
• If Ireland is listed, US firms operating there would face specific tax requirements and potential penalties under existing anti-boycott regulations.