French Parliament to Consider Ban on Trade With Israeli Settlements

France's National Assembly is scheduled to debate a proposed law on November 19 that would prohibit commercial relations with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights. The bill, spearheaded by Socialist deputy Olivier Faure and supported by lawmakers from eight political groups, aims to impose unprecedented economic restrictions on French companies. Faure expressed his satisfaction on X, announcing the upcoming parliamentary review. The legislation, filed on July 23, 2026, seeks to ban commercial activities that contribute to the development or maintenance of Israeli settlements in territories France considers occupied. This would extend beyond importing goods to include services, financial operations, and advertising related to the settlements. Violating companies could face fines up to 5% of their global annual turnover, with some offenses punishable by a year in prison.

The proposed restrictions could impact various economic sectors in the West Bank and Golan Heights, including agriculture, food processing, cosmetics, and industry. Products like dates from the Jordan Valley, settlement wines, fruits, vegetables, and certain manufactured goods could be affected. According to an estimate cited in the bill's explanatory statement, European imports from settlements amount to approximately $300 million annually, significantly exceeding European imports of Palestinian products. However, precise figures for trade specifically with France and the number of West Bank companies exporting directly to the French market are not officially available.

Faure cited the International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion, which deemed Israeli presence in occupied Palestinian territories illegal, as justification for the initiative. He noted that 730,000 Israelis reside in 437 settlements in the West Bank and believes halting economic flows is crucial to curbing settlement expansion. While products from settlements are already excluded from EU customs benefits granted to Israel, their sale remains permitted in France.