Netherlands Plans To Ban Imports Of Jewish Production Goods

JAKARTA - The Dutch government plans to ban imports of goods manufactured in Jewish settlements in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories related to Israel's plans in the West Bank and its military offensive in Gaza.

The Netherlands imposed a travel ban on two Israeli far-right cabinet ministers in July, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians and calling for "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza, but the government declined to take further steps to date.

Last month, former Foreign Minister Nepal Veldkamp resigned because he felt there was no support in the cabinet to take additional action against Israel.

But his successor, David van Weel, told parliament late Wednesday he had instructed his department to draft a government decree on a ban on imports.

Reported by Reuters, van Weel said the action would be carried out as soon as possible.

The Netherlands is the main global buyer of Israeli goods, but Van Weel did not say how much goods are currently imported from Jewish settlements.

Most international communities consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law.

The Israeli government considers legal settlements according to its own law, while some are called illegal "leading posts" but are often tolerated and sometimes later legalized.

The Netherlands also supports the European Commission's plan to suspend trade-related measures in the EU agreement with Israel, Van Weel said.