Norway prepares trade restrictions with Israeli settlements
Norway is preparing a bill to restrict trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Individuals and companies that violate the proposed rules could face up to three years in prison, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Consideration of the bill
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expects the bill to be adopted in the autumn. The deadline for consultations on the document is September 19.
Eide told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that the arguments for such restrictions have strengthened due to the deteriorating situation in the West Bank. He also noted that other countries have stated their intention to introduce similar restrictions.
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Position of twelve countries
Last week, 12 countries confirmed their intention to introduce national restrictions on trade in goods from Israeli settlements. The list includes Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
In a joint statement, these countries stressed that the Israeli government's actions in the West Bank are harming the possibility of implementing a two-state solution. They also said the situation is deteriorating rapidly amid unprecedented levels of settler violence, settlement expansion and the decision to publish tenders for the E1 settlement project.
According to Eide, the volume of trade between Norway and the settlements is insignificant. Among the goods that could be affected by the restrictions, he named wine, certain agricultural products and goods related to construction in the settlements.
