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I Would Be a Criminal under Proposed Irish Bill to Boycott Israel
(Belfast News Letter-UK) Steven Jaffe - I enjoy kosher wine from the Golan Heights and the small candelabrum I use to light candles during the festival of Hannukah was purchased in the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. That makes me a criminal twice over if this bill boycotting goods manufactured in the West Bank, which was passed by the Dail, becomes law in the Republic of Ireland. I would face up to five years in an Irish jail. This bill treats the Jewish presence at the Western Wall in Jerusalem or at the burial place of the Patriarchs in Hebron as illegal settlements and doing business with any Jews there is a criminal offense. Those behind this bill have failed to impose an effective consumer-led boycott against Israel despite over ten years campaigning. They are therefore turning to abusing the criminal law to impose a partisan anti-Israel point of view. The writer is co-chair of Northern Ireland Friends of Israel.