Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach

Israeli Bond Programme: Discussion (Resumed)

2:00 am

Photo of Alice-Mary HigginsAlice-Mary Higgins (Independent)

Then, very finally, one of the questions we raised in our exchange goes back to the fundamental point about the State of Israel and the repayment of the bonds. This applies as a concern about the bonds that were issued under Mr. Makhlouf's watch in 2023 and 2024. Has there been further examination of the concerns that were relayed about the repayment of those bonds to bondholders who purchased bonds during the period of the Central Bank's approval of those prospectuses? There is a single line in the Israeli budget referring to the repayment of bondholders. We know the Israeli central budget draws on VAT and other moneys that are gathered from illegally occupied territories. Has there been any consideration of the concerns under money laundering legislation, which is the responsibility of the Central Bank, given the fact that the bondholders who have purchased bonds, including those offered under Ireland's watch and that of the Central Bank, may be repaid from moneys which are not properly and appropriately lawfully sourced?

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