Sample email on the Occupied Territories Bill

Send this sample email on the Occupied Territories Bill to your TDs!

Subject: Urgent Call from [Your Constituency]: please rescue the Occupied Territories Bill

Dear Deputy,

I am writing to you as your constituent to request that you take action on the Occupied Territories Bill. The government intends to significantly weaken this bill by completely excluding services, proposing weaker legislation even than what Spain has already passed. 

The International Court of Justice made clear in 2024 that states have a legal obligation not to trade with illegal Israeli settlements. The court did not distinguish between goods and services, and we should not just selectively apply which aspects of international law suit us.

Last year, the Joint Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee recommended that the Bill be strengthened to include services, which had support across all political parties. Around 70% of Ireland’s trade with Israel is in services, and as such, if we exclude services, the Occupied Territories Bill risks becoming significantly watered down.

As your constituent, I would like to see a full ban on services included in the Occupied Territories Bill. At the very least, Ireland should follow the example set by Spain, which last year banned trade in goods, and also included a ban on advertising tourism services in Israeli settlements. Setting a lower bar than the one set by Spain would be a let-down for the people of Palestine.

I would be grateful to know your position on the Bill, whether you support the inclusion of services, and what steps you are taking to press for passing the bill in full.

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your address]

[Your constituency]