Sometimes, it’s hard to figure out what’s really going on behind the scenes.

On the one hand, there’s all this sound and fury over the Occupied Territories Bill.

Ireland is standing up to the might and fury of Israel and the USA to bring in legislation banning goods from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine.

Yes, Ireland is on the side of the angels here – and it’s not alone.

Last summer, for example, the international Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s 57-year-old occupation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem was illegal.

Subsequent to that, a resolution was passed by the UN General Assembly with 124 states, including Ireland, voting in favour. This calls on states to take steps towards stopping the importation of products originating in the Israeli settlements.

So, Ireland is on the side of the angels with this Bill, then?

But, on the other hand, here’s the Department of Justice flatly denying entry to 33 Palestinian children and young teenagers scheduled to enjoy a tour of our country.

Are we still on the side of the angels, or am I missing something here?

Our stance on the Occupied Territories Bill has certainly brought us criticism, externally and internally.

We have been accused (and this according to none other than the U.S ambassador to Israel) of taking a dive into a vat of Guinness and suffering from some kind of “diplomatic........

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