Ireland appears closer to passing a bill that will ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territories in the West Bank, sparking sharp criticism from US officials who have signaled the move could harm Dublin’s relationship with Washington.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Ireland to "sober up" and apologize to the Israeli foreign ministry over a bill that is set to ban imports from settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says her party is pushing to toughen the historic bill for a halt to trade with illegal Israeli settlements - Anadolu Ajansı

Huckabee demanded Irish lawmakers “sober up” and apologize to Israel for advancing what he called a “stupid” boycott bill against Israeli settlements.

The US Ambassador to Israel has criticised the Occupied Territories Bill, calling on Ireland to "sober up". The bill would prohibit trade between Ireland and Israel's illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

A ban on trade between Ireland and illegal Israeli settlements will prompt other countries to follow suit, a committee has heard. Irish-Palestinian woman Fatin Al Tamimi, who is vice-chairwoman of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said Ireland passing the Bill would give Palestinians hope.

Former justice minister Alan Shatter has been criticised for comparing a ban on trade with Israeli settlements to TV sitcom Father Ted, with one TD asking “how dare you” use that description. Ex-Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter opposes the Irish Government’s draft law banning trade with Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands that have been deemed illegal

The Israeli plan includes the construction of 1,352 settlement units in Qalqilya in the northern West Bank, and 430 units in two existing settlements northeast of Ramallah and northwest of Jerusalem, said the report by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s National Bureau for Defending Land.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade convened in Dublin’s Leinster House on Tuesday to debate the Occupied Territories Bill, proposed legislation that would ban imports of goods and services from Israeli settlements in the disputed territories.