EU: We don’t recognize the sovereignty of Israel on the territories occupied in 1967

The European Union has refused to recognize the sovereignty of Israel on the territories occupied in 1967, amid a dispute between Israel and Ireland because of a bill that prohibits the import of Ireland goods from Israeli settlements.

Spokeswoman of the European Union’s Head of Diplomacy, Federica Mogherini, Maja Kocijancic said that, “We’re of course following the legislative process of this proposal, which is still ongoing”.

Kocijancic said she is not in a position to comment on a draft law which is under study.

Kocijancic added, “We don’t recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the territories it occupied in 1967 and do not consider it part of Israeli territory”.

The Irish Senate voted 25 to 20 to pass a bill banning the import of goods from the Israeli settlements last Wednesday.

The bill will be presented to the House of Representatives for approval to take effect.

The ruling party in Ireland opposes the text.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry called on the Irish ambassador to protest the bill, and threatened to close the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv.