Netherlands Advances Plan to Ban Imports from Israeli Settlements Despite Pausing Wider Sanctions

Netherlands Advances Plan to Ban Imports from Israeli Settlements Despite Pausing Wider Sanctions
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The Netherlands is continuing work on legislation to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine, even as it pauses broader sanctions on Israel following last month’s Gaza ceasefire, The Guardian reported. Foreign Minister David van Weel said the partial ban aims to respond to settlement expansion and rising Israeli violence against Palestinians, which he warned threaten the two-state solution. During a visit to the West Bank, Van Weel said that while the Netherlands seeks to support peace efforts, it “is not blind” to developments that further undermine prospects for peace.

Five European Union countries — Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, Belgium, and Finland — have already moved toward restricting trade with settlements. Spain and Slovenia have enacted export bans, while Ireland and Belgium are advancing related legislation. Van Weel acknowledged that progress in the Netherlands has been slow, as EU trade policy limits unilateral national action, noting that any measure must first pass through parliament.

Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have sharply increased, with UN data showing an average of eight daily incidents in October, the highest level in nearly two decades. Meanwhile, several EU states have urged the European Commission to explore restrictions on settlement trade following the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel’s occupation is illegal. Analysts say that while settlement exports represent a small share of EU-Israel trade, coordinated measures could send a strong political message supporting Palestinian statehood and compliance with international law.