OSLO (MNTV) — Norway is considering prison sentences of up to three years for intentional violations of a proposed ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has said.
The legislation, currently under public consultation, would prohibit Norwegian individuals and companies from importing goods produced in Israeli settlements or exporting goods to them. It would also restrict property purchases and services connected to construction and real estate in settlements. Intentional violations could result in fines or imprisonment for up to three years, while negligent violations could carry sentences of up to six months.
Eide told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that he expected the proposal to advance in parliament, known as the Storting, this fall.
“The arguments have only become stronger because the situation in the West Bank has become even worse,” he said, noting that other countries were pursuing similar measures.
Trade between Norway and the settlements remains relatively small, with products including wine and some agricultural goods.
Jorgen Jensehaugen, a senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, said the measure would therefore have a limited direct economic impact.
However, he argued that Israel’s broader economy is closely integrated with the settlements and described the proposal as a minimum step toward ensuring that “occupation should not be financially profitable.”
The Norwegian government says the measure is intended to prevent its citizens and companies from contributing to or profiting from settlements that it considers illegal under international law. The proposed restrictions would also apply to Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
The consultation period is scheduled to close on Sept. 19 before the government determines the legislation’s next steps.
Norway is part of a group of 12 countries — alongside Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK — that have announced plans to introduce or consider restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements.
The UK, France and Canada have already announced bans on imports from Israeli settlements amid growing international pressure over settlement expansion and violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.