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European States Consider Prison Terms Over Trade with Israeli Settlements
(MENAFN) Several European countries are considering legal measures that could impose prison sentences of up to 10 years on individuals and companies involved in commercial activity with Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian territory, amid growing European pressure over settlement expansion.
Norway is preparing legislation that would prohibit trade involving products from Israeli settlements and could carry prison sentences of up to three years for individuals or companies found to violate the proposed rules. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said he expected parliament to approve the legislation in its current form.
“Yes, I really think so, and the arguments have become stronger as the situation in the West Bank has worsened,” Eide said in response to a question about the proposed law.
“There are many other countries that will do the same thing that the government has already proposed through this law,” he added.
The Netherlands is also preparing similar measures, with penalties reportedly reaching up to six years in prison. A Dutch decision prohibiting the import, purchase or sale of goods originating from Israeli settlements is expected to take effect on Sept. 22.
Britain is considering even tougher penalties, with commercial dealings involving Israeli settlements potentially carrying prison terms of as long as 10 years, according to reports.
The proposed measures come after 12 Western countries announced plans to introduce restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements. The countries involved are France, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
In a joint statement, the countries called on Israel to immediately stop settlement expansion and violence by settlers. They said the planned measures are intended to support the two-state solution, oppose the annexation of Palestinian territory and forced displacement, and promote accountability for those responsible for violence.
The announcement followed an Israeli decision to issue tenders for approximately 1,200 settlement housing units in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank. The plan has drawn international criticism because development in the area could affect territorial continuity between parts of the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.
France has also backed broader action at the European Union level. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said Wednesday that Paris supports imposing an EU-wide ban on trade with Israeli settlements located in occupied Palestinian territory.
The growing push for restrictions reflects increasing concern among several European governments over settlement expansion and policies affecting the occupied West Bank. The proposed trade measures would represent a further step by European states toward applying economic pressure in response to continued settlement activity.
Amnesty International welcomed the decision by Britain and the other 11 countries to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, describing the move as necessary while arguing that it should have been introduced earlier.
Norway is preparing legislation that would prohibit trade involving products from Israeli settlements and could carry prison sentences of up to three years for individuals or companies found to violate the proposed rules. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said he expected parliament to approve the legislation in its current form.
“Yes, I really think so, and the arguments have become stronger as the situation in the West Bank has worsened,” Eide said in response to a question about the proposed law.
“There are many other countries that will do the same thing that the government has already proposed through this law,” he added.
The Netherlands is also preparing similar measures, with penalties reportedly reaching up to six years in prison. A Dutch decision prohibiting the import, purchase or sale of goods originating from Israeli settlements is expected to take effect on Sept. 22.
Britain is considering even tougher penalties, with commercial dealings involving Israeli settlements potentially carrying prison terms of as long as 10 years, according to reports.
The proposed measures come after 12 Western countries announced plans to introduce restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements. The countries involved are France, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
In a joint statement, the countries called on Israel to immediately stop settlement expansion and violence by settlers. They said the planned measures are intended to support the two-state solution, oppose the annexation of Palestinian territory and forced displacement, and promote accountability for those responsible for violence.
The announcement followed an Israeli decision to issue tenders for approximately 1,200 settlement housing units in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank. The plan has drawn international criticism because development in the area could affect territorial continuity between parts of the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem.
France has also backed broader action at the European Union level. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said Wednesday that Paris supports imposing an EU-wide ban on trade with Israeli settlements located in occupied Palestinian territory.
The growing push for restrictions reflects increasing concern among several European governments over settlement expansion and policies affecting the occupied West Bank. The proposed trade measures would represent a further step by European states toward applying economic pressure in response to continued settlement activity.
Amnesty International welcomed the decision by Britain and the other 11 countries to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, describing the move as necessary while arguing that it should have been introduced earlier.
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