Norway advances bill to criminalize trade with Israeli settlements

Norway is advancing legislation that would make trading with Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem a criminal offense, with penalties of up to three years in prison. The proposal, announced by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, is part of a coordinated effort by a group of 12 Western countries to impose restrictions on settlement trade. Eide told Norwegian state broadcaster NRK that he expects parliament, the Storting, to approve the legislation this autumn. A public consultation on the measure is scheduled to end on September 19. The proposal would prohibit Norwegian citizens and companies from importing goods originating in Israeli settlements or exporting goods to them. It would also bar real estate purchases and restrict services like construction, engineering, and financing connected to settlement activity. The legislation would allow Norwegian authorities to prosecute qualifying conduct taking place outside Norway, even if the activity is not criminal locally. According to an analysis by Norwegian law firm Wikborg Rein, negligent violations could carry sentences of up to six months.