Bank shuts down BDS account in Ireland
The Bank of Ireland, the nation's oldest financial institution, shut down the boycott movement's account following the enactment of anti-BDS legislation in the US. Several other banks in different countries have taken similar action.
Advocates for Israel have struck a blow against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Ireland, as they have recently managed to convince the Bank of Ireland, that nation's oldest financial institution, to shut down the account of BDS group Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).
Ireland is considered a fairly BDS-friendly country, but recent anti-boycott legislation in the United States has discouraged Bank of Ireland from cooperating with the movement. As a result of the decision, the organization's accounts in Northern Ireland have been closed as well.
BDS representatives responded to the decision saying the bank came to the conclusion that transferring funds to the Palestinian territories was dangerous, and so it decided to close IPSC's accounts. According to the organization, the money they were transferring was received by a kaffiyeh factory in the territories whose products are sold in Ireland.
The decision by Bank of Ireland follows those of other banks in the UK, Austria, Germany, France, and other countries.
The Irish BDS movement is one of the most hostile towards Israel in the world. A few days ago, following the death of former president Shimon Peres, it published a statement calling Peres an unpunished war criminal who was responsible for apartheid.
