Sir, – You report that Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, has criticised the European Union for obstructing action on banning trade with the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories (“EU accused of stalling on trade ban with illegal Israeli settlements,” July 13th). Rather pointedly, Albares observed that he suspects the EU of “engaging in a delaying tactic, debating and debating without taking any action”. It sounds faintly like the behaviour of the Irish Government for years around the Occupied Territories Bill here.Truth be told, the EU has entirely disgraced itself on the issue of Palestine and has fundamentally undermined its credibility when it speaks on international humanitarian law and universal human rights. Despite the massive civilian death-toll in Gaza, and the illegal and increasing colonisation of Jerusalem and the West Bank, the EU continues to do business as usual with the Israeli state.Geopolitical considerations have eclipsed international law. Moreover, it is not that the EU is incapable of taking strong action. The inertia regarding Israel is a deliberative choice. By contrast, for example, there have been 20 packages of serious EU sanctions against Russia since the beginning of its assault on Ukraine and another is under active consideration at the moment. – Yours, etc,FINTAN LANE,Lucan,Co Dublin.