
Sinn Fรฉinโs Mike McKee proposed that โThat Clare County Council supports the call to introduce a ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.โ
At the June meeting of the local authority, Cllr McKee said โIโm not going into the debate or backgroundโ but encouraged his fellow elected members to support the motion and send a letter on to members of Seanad รireann. He spoke with Senator Frances Black about what she witnessed firsthand in the occupied areas, she commented to him that it was โlike a prisonโ.
โThe whole world watched in horror as the Israeli police force opened fireโ, the Shannon councillor stated. He added that Trocaire were working to secure ban on trade from Israeli goods. McKeeโs motion was supported by Fianna Fรกilโs Cathal Crowe.
At the end of January, the Government opposed a Seanad Private Memberโs Bill calling for a prohibition on goods and services from illegal Israeli settlements. The bill was moved by Senator Black who said at the time โIt is a chance for Ireland to state strongly that it does not support the illegal confiscation of land and the human suffering which inevitably results.โ