Norway announced on Friday that it plans to prohibit its citizens and companies from trading in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The government, which recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, said the measure is aimed at stopping Norwegians from profiting from or supporting activities that sustain what it calls Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement that Norwegian citizens and businesses “are not allowed to profit from or support activities that aid the continuation of Israel’s illegal settlement activity in Palestine.” He added that the government intends to impose legally binding bans on trade with illegal settlements. The draft law is expected to pass the Norwegian parliament.
The proposal would ban imports and exports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank. It would also prohibit real-estate transactions and the provision of services related to construction, renovation, purchase or sale of properties. A final consultation on the bill is scheduled for September 19.
Norway’s Foreign Ministry said the move follows international decisions, including UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which states that Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law and a major obstacle to peace. Eide said the settlements violate international law, contribute to displacement and extremist violence, and make a peaceful solution impossible. UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese welcomed the announcement, calling it “a small step, the smallest step but it is a start,” and questioned how Norway can allow its sovereign wealth fund to invest in entities linked to the occupation.
