Norway moves to ban trade with West Bank Israeli settlements

Norway is preparing legislation to ban trade in products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, joining several Western countries that announced similar measures last week. Offenders could face up to three years in prison.

Speaking to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK on Monday, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said parliament would approve the law in its current form.

“Yes, I actually think so,” Eide said when asked whether the law would be passed this autumn.

The arguments have only become “stronger because the situation in the West Bank has become even worse,” he said, adding that several other European countries have taken similar measures aimed at isolating Israel on the international stage.

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Eide said Israel was not prepared for this many countries to unite and for the United States not to intervene.

“Israel has become far too accustomed to being able to intimidate Western countries by saying they were antisemites if they criticized Israel for abuses and violations of international law. Now the (protective cover) that Israel has in many ways enjoyed is gone,” he added.

In the Netherlands, a ban on trade with settlements includes strict penalties, with the import, purchase or sale of settlement goods classified as an economic offence under national law, punishable by up to six years in prison.

In addition to prison sentences, economic offences in the Netherlands can result in heavy fines for companies and the seizure of their assets.

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