Norway has launched a public consultation on a proposed law that would ban all trade and business activities linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The draft legislation seeks to prohibit imports of goods produced in settlements, exports to them, and any commercial involvement including property purchases, construction services, and business operations based in those areas.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution. The Norwegian government emphasized that the measure aims to ensure Norwegian individuals and companies do not contribute to settlement expansion or related economic activity.
The proposal will remain open for public consultation until September 19, after which the government will decide whether to present it to parliament for approval. Norway has also recently aligned with several Western nations in imposing sanctions related to settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
