Norway seeks to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine

Norwegian government announces consultation on new bill as it steps up policies regarding ‘unlawful’ Israeli activities.Norway’s government says it plans to ban all trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and has announced consultation on a proposal for a new bill prohibiting such transactions.“The Israeli settlements in Palestine are in breach of international law,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide said in a statement on Friday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Palestine weekly wrap: World sanctions settlers, Israel funds settlementslist 2 of 4Israel slams EU’s Kallas for ‘apartheid’ comment: Are ties unravelling?list 3 of 4‘Destruction is the goal’: Israel steers between the US, Iran, and Lebanonlist 4 of 4Israel continues attacks on Lebanon despite agreeing to ceasefireend of list“They contribute to displacement, extreme violence and a situation that makes a peaceful solution impossible. We intend to prohibit trade with the unlawful settlements,” he added.The Norwegian government wants to ban trade in goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian lands, including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.Regarding real estate, Oslo also plans to outlaw “the purchase of property in the settlements, the provision of services relating to the construction, renovation, purchase or sale of property in these areas, and the acquisition of commercial enterprises whose head office and production facilities are located in the settlements”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.“The settlements undermine the basis for a Palestinian state. Norwegian citizens and Norwegian companies must not contribute to maintaining this development. With this legislative proposal, the government takes a clear stance and puts forward rules that set firm limits for Norwegian trade and business activities,” Eide added.Norway, which is not a member of the European Union, recognised the state of Palestine in 2024, at the same time as EU members Ireland and Spain did. The Israeli government lashed out by quickly withdrawing its ambassadors from Oslo, Dublin and Madrid and summoning the Norwegian, Irish and Spanish representatives in Tel Aviv.