Norway readies bill to ban all trade with Israeli settlements

The Norwegian government announced its intention to ban all trade with Israeli settlements located in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The foreign ministry in Oslo stated that Norwegian citizens and companies should not contribute to sustaining these settlements, which it described as illegal.

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Norwegian people and Norwegian companies should not contribute to sustaining illegal settlements. The policy of colonization undermines the possibility of achieving a two-state solution.

The government has drafted legislation that aims to prohibit trade in goods produced in the West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements. The proposed ban also extends to purchasing property within these settlements, providing services related to their construction or sale, and acquiring commercial enterprises based there. The ministry noted that while the ban would apply to Gaza, no settlements currently exist there.

Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized that the policy of colonization undermines the possibility of achieving a two-state solution. He further stated that "The colonies undermine the very foundations of the Palestinian state."

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We want to ban all commercial activity with these illegal settlements.

The drafted bill will undergo a three-month consultation period, concluding on September 19, before a vote is held. Norway, which recognized the state of Palestine in 2024, will continue its trade and other ties with legitimate Palestinian activities and provide humanitarian aid. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War, and while it annexed East Jerusalem, most of the international community does not recognize this move.

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The colonies undermine the very foundations of the Palestinian state.