The Irish Government Investment Fund has announced that it will stop investing in six Israeli companies. The companies include the major banks - Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Bank Discount, Bank Mizrahi Tefahot, the First International Bank as well as the Rami Levy chain.
Ireland is considered one of the countries most sympathetic to the Palestinian side and the most hostile to Israel. Last year, a law promoted in the Irish Parliament, proposed by the Sinn Fein party, states that the Irish government will not be able to be a shareholder in companies operating in settlements.