Priests Against Genocide urge Irish Government to block Israel Bonds prospectus

Jul 31st, 2026

Priests Against Genocide IRL-UK, part of an international network spanning 62 countries and comprising more than 2,500 Catholic priests, bishops and cardinals, today issued an open letter to the Irish Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), demanding urgent action to stop the CBI from transferring approval of the 2026 Israel Bonds prospectus to any EU member state.

Ireland serves as the "home member state" for Israel Bonds within the European Union, meaning no such bonds can be sold in the EU without annual approval - or transfer of approval - by the Central Bank of Ireland.

The group argues that facilitating these sales is both legally and morally indefensible, citing obligations under the Genocide Convention and the International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion, which found Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful.

The letter notes that Amnesty International, in a 21 July 2026 statement, called on Irish authorities to reject a new prospectus for Israel Bonds and to decline transferring approval elsewhere in the EU. It also recalls that the Taoiseach has previously acknowledged the bonds "further assist the financing of Israel's violations of human rights and contravening international law."

The priests further invoke the Vatican's ethical investment guidelines, Mensuram Bonum, which explicitly exclude investment in weapons and defense industries, arguing that Israel Bonds fall squarely within that prohibited category.

The appeal follows the group's 20 July 2026 call for Ireland to use its EU Presidency to press for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

"We plead and demand that you now take immediate action to end Ireland's pivotal enabling role in Israel's fundraising for genocide and other grave crimes," the letter states.

The full letter follows:

Open Letter from Priests Against Genocide to the Government of Ireland and the Central Bank Governor

Dear Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Governor,

Beannachtaí agus dea-ghuí uainn agus sibh i mbun bhur sheirbhíse mar cheannaire de mhuintir na hÉireann agus na hEorpag an am seo.

Greetings from our group, "Priests Against Genocide IRL-UK", who form part of a Network spanning 62 countries, with a membership of more than 2,500 Catholic priests, bishops and Cardinals.

The movement began in Italy on Sept 21st, 2025 in response to the disproportionate and excessive actions of the Israeli Dense Forces in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon; to support the vulnerable Palestinian and Lebanese communities who live there, and to advocate for peace with justice, for all concerned, including the people of Israel.

Six centuries before the coming of Christ, the Jewish prophet Isaiah (58:6) exclaimed: "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke?" Jesus himself characterised his own mission as one of

"freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, setting the oppressed free" (Luke 4:18).

Nothing is as dear to the Irish people and its diaspora as freedom.

During his military trial, Pádraig Pearse famously stated: "[…] you cannot extinguish the Irish passion for freedom. If our deed has not been sufficient to win freedom, then our children will win it by a better deed."

St Columbanus (540-615 CE), famous son of Carlow and Bangor, and often called the "First European" and an inspiration for the formation of the European Union, whose presidency you hold, once said: "If you take away freedom, you take away dignity."1

Sirs, we believe that the freedom, dignity and very survival of multiple communities quite literally lies in your hands at this time.

As you know, Ireland is the "home member state" for Israel Bonds within the EU. Israel Bonds cannot be sold in the EU without, on an annual basis, approval by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) or transfer by CBI to a competent authority in another EU state which subsequently approves the prospectus.

Enabling the sale of Israel Bonds is legally, and morally, indefensible, in our view. It is in violation of the Genocide Convention2 which requires states, including all organs of the state, to act to prevent genocide from the moment the risk of genocide is known. It is also in violation of the obligation, as outlined in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Ruling of July 2024, not to assist in the maintenance of the unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

Amnesty International in a public statement, issued on 21 July 2026, recommended that the Central Bank of Ireland and all relevant Irish authorities ensure that Ireland decline to transfer the approval of a new prospectus to another EU member state, and reject the approval of a new prospectus for the issuance of Israel Bonds in 2026.

Taoiseach, you yourself have publicly recognised that Israel Bonds "further assist the financing of Israel's violations of human rights and contravening international law".

The CBI has shown that it will not stop facilitating the sale of Israel Bonds without direction from the government. The CBI renewed approval for Israel Bonds in September 2024, eleven months into the conflict in Gaza and nine months after the ICJ ruling of plausible genocide. In September 2025, the CBI transferred the prospectus to the Commission de surveillance du secteur financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg to ensure Israel's continued access to EU markets. CBI sought to transfer the 2026 prospectus two months ago.

We believe that it is imperative that the Government take urgent steps to stop the CBI transferring the Israel Bonds prospectus to any state in the light of all the above.

As Catholic priests, we also endorse the Vatican's teaching on ethical investment - Mensuram Bonum - which require funds to prioritize human dignity, the sanctity of life, and the common good over maximum profit.

One sector specifically prohibited is that of investments in weapons and the defence industry. The above Bonds clearly fall in that category.

Following our July 26th 2026 call on your Government to take action at EU level for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza (Catholic priests urge Ireland to use EU Presidency to push for Gaza ceasefire | ICN), we plead and demand that you now take immediate action to end Ireland's pivotal enabling role in Israel's fundraising for genocide and other grave crimes.

Referencing Mary Manning of Henry St, and her colleagues of 1984, the late Nelson Mandela said "ordinary people far away from the crucible of apartheid cared for our freedom" and how their example kept his spirit alive on Robbin Island. We too invoke the ancient Irish spirit of freedom and justice on the decisions which now demand your determined and immediate attention,

Go dtabharfaidh Dia misneach agus comhbhá daoibh don obair thábhachtach seo,

On behalf of Priests Against Genocide IRL-UK,

Fr Pat Colgan, St Columban's, Navan, Co Meath (prcolgan@gmail.com)
Fr Gabriel Dolan SPS, Clones Parish, Co Monaghan (gdolan54@gmail.com)
Fr Stephen Cummins OP, St Mary's Priory, Tallaght (stephen.cummins@dominicans.ie)
Fr Chris McGuinness SPS, Derry (spschrismcguinness@gmail.com)
Fr Brendan McManus SJ, Manresa Retreat House, Dublin (bmcmanus@jesuitlink.ie)
Fr Joseph McVeigh, Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh (mcveigh620@btinternet.com)
Fr Eamonn O'Connor, Strokestown, Co Roscommon (eto.oconnor13@gmail.com)

...................................................................................................

Letter at Nantes, France, 610 CE.
The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG), unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1948, entered into force on 12 January 1951 and has 153 state parties, including Ireland, as of February 2025.
Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 | INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE - www.icj-cij.org/node/204160
Report on the Israeli Bonds Programme, from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, published on 5 August 2025.
Mensuram Bonum (24 exclusionary criteria) - The Vatican's new guidelines for ethical investing: A Q&A with Dr.Samuel Gregg - Catholic World Report.

LINK

Priests Against Genocide: https://forms.gle/WH66Tzqa6KgKzyra8 (For Catholic priests who wish to join this network)