The Norwegian government announced a package of new legal measures aimed at restricting commercial activity with Israeli settlements established on occupied Palestinian territories. This step includes imposing a comprehensive ban preventing Norwegian citizens and companies from trading goods and services produced within these settlements, in a move that reflects Norway's escalating stance against settlement policies.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide affirmed that his country, which officially recognized the State of Palestine in 2024, seeks to ensure that its economy does not contribute to supporting illegal settlement activities. Eide pointed out that investment or trade in these areas directly or indirectly contributes to sustaining the occupation, which contradicts Norway's international obligations and political positions.
The proposed bill, which is expected to be approved by the Norwegian Parliament, includes preventing all import and export operations related to the settlements. The ban also extends to real estate transactions, tightening the noose on any Norwegian attempts to invest in confiscated lands. The government has set September 19 as the deadline for concluding consultations on this legislation.
On the ground, various areas in the occupied West Bank witnessed violent confrontations after Friday prayers, as Israeli occupation forces suppressed peaceful marches condemning settlement expansion. Local sources reported that dozens of citizens suffered severe suffocation due to inhaling tear gas fired heavily by soldiers at demonstrators in areas threatened with confiscation.
In Ramallah Governorate, a massive march was launched in the village of Deir Abu Mash'al with wide participation from residents and foreign peace activists, heading towards the 'Al-Qarana' hill threatened with seizure. This event came in response to a group of settlers setting up settlement tents in the area about two weeks ago, in an attempt to impose a new reality and turn the hill into a permanent settlement outpost.
Field sources reported that the occupation army used live ammunition and tear gas canisters to disperse participants in the Deir Abu Mash'al march, leading to injuries and severe tension in the area. The occupation did not stop at field repression but also carried out an arrest campaign that included Palestinian citizens and five foreign solidarity activists who were documenting Israeli violations against the land and its owners.
These developments come amid successive international reports from the United Nations confirming the illegality of Israeli settlements and considering them a fundamental obstacle to achieving peace. International pressure on the occupation is escalating as European countries like Norway take practical steps to translate their condemnation of settlements into tangible economic and sovereign decisions that affect the structure of the settlement project.
Citizens and companies in Norway should not benefit from or support activities that help perpetuate illegal Israeli settlement activity in Palestine.
שתף את דעתך
Norway moves to ban trade with settlements, occupation suppresses West Bank protests