Netherlands passes law banning trade with Israeli settlement products

The Netherlands has passed a law banning the import, sale, and purchase of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights, effective September 22, 2026, with penalties of up to six years in prison. Israeli concerns focus on broader political and economic repercussions.

The Netherlands has enacted a new law prohibiting the import, sale, and purchase of products originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. The law takes effect on September 22, 2026, after being approved as a government decree and published in the official gazette, with broad consensus within the ruling centrist-left coalition. The Dutch law is stricter than measures taken by other European countries, as it not only bans imports of settlement products from beyond the Green Line but also includes products from the Golan, and prohibits the purchase or sale of these products within the Netherlands. The law applies to Dutch citizens even abroad, with a maximum penalty of six years in prison, distinguishing between intentional and unintentional violations. The ban covers only goods and not services, allowing companies like Booking.com to continue listing hotels in settlements. Israeli concerns center on broader political and economic repercussions, especially the possibility that Dutch companies may avoid dealing with Israeli firms. The Netherlands accounts for about 5% of Israeli exports, and Israel fears the legislation could become a model for other European countries. Dutch policy toward Israel has shifted markedly in recent years, moving from a more balanced stance to sharper criticism.