Irish bill on "occupied territories," likely to pass upper house today, is a travesty in many ways, but a teaching moment as well. It shows criticism of Israel re settlements not about int'l law at all, just uses that as an epithet.
2) The bill adopts unique definition of "occupied territories" that applies only to Israel, excludes WSahara, Crimea, NCyprus, etc. Authors care so little about int'l law they're happy to legitimize those occupations to reduce political cost of beating up on Israel.
3) It adopts a definition of "settler" that is entirely unknown to international law, going even beyond the broadest baseless definitions suggested by UNHRC in context of Israel. It is purely made up.
4) And its outrageous: it could make it a bailable offense for an Irish national to take a cab to the Kotel, or get a tour there. Could also make it a crime for the US to hire Israeli employees for its new embassy.
5) Ultimately, it is bad news for US companies doing business in Ireland, who will face penalties under US boycott laws for complying. Also violates a variety of trade laws, and US trade policy.
6) Echoing Iran's use of fringe anti-Israel Jewish groups, the supporters of the bill gleefully point out that a few far-left Jewish boycott supporters wrote a letter in favor of the bill. That just shows that Israel is a free country; not that the Irish bill is not anti-Semitic
