Netherlands Bans Imports from Illegal Israeli Settlements Starting September

JAKARTA - The Netherlands will start imposing a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory starting September 22.

Companies that attempt to circumvent the restrictions will also face legal action from the same date, according to Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws.

The Dutch government considers Israeli settlements in occupied territories to be illegal. This policy is implemented to ensure that trade activities do not contribute to the continuation of settlements.

Products imported from the settlement are mostly agricultural commodities, including avocados, dates, oranges, grapes, and fresh spices. The ban also includes products from the occupied Golan Heights, an area known as a wine-producing region.

The annual trade value involving the affected areas is estimated to reach tens of millions of euros, although its value is difficult to determine with certainty.

Meanwhile, according to RTL Nieuws, some parties living in the settlement are avoiding the applicable rules by stating that their products come from Israel, not from the occupied territories.

The majority of Dutch parliamentarians have long pushed for a ban on imports from settlements deemed illegal. The government had previously promised in the summer of last year to take such a step.

The government announced the policy in May and asked for an urgent opinion from the Dutch Council of State. Berendsen said the opinion did not require changes to the sanctions regulation so that the policy could come into effect in September.

The policy that has been implemented since 2006 to encourage Dutch companies not to carry out business activities that contribute to the development or maintenance of settlements will also remain in effect.

The Netherlands is one of a growing number of EU member states to impose restrictions at the national level, amid an impasse over a similar ban at the EU level.

Belgium approved a similar import ban on July 18, while Spain and Slovenia have also adopted similar policies. The Irish parliament passed a similar ban on July 15.