The wave in Europe against settlements
The European wave of sanctions against settlements is expanding: Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands have already approved measures; the UK, Norway, Luxembourg, and Belgium are advancing similar steps. The promotion of a tender for building 1,200 housing units in the E1 area threatens to intensify the trend, with the UK announcing the formulation of comprehensive measures against Israel. An expert warns of potential significant damage.
The wave of European sanctions against settlements is expanding, with three countries already approving measures and at least five more considering or advancing similar steps. Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands have approved measures restricting trade with Judea and Samaria, each in a different model. In the UK, Norway, Luxembourg, and Belgium, similar steps are being advanced. Dr. Maya Shion-Tzedekia, director of the Israel-Europe Relations Program at the Mitvim Institute, explains that compared to the simpler Irish and Spanish models, the Dutch sanctions are much broader and impose responsibility on the European importer to ensure that no part of the goods is produced in settlements. She emphasizes that the Netherlands receives a significant share of Israel's maritime exports, and that the new step incentivizes Dutch companies not to work with Israeli companies. The promotion of the tender for building 1,200 housing units in the E1 area, a strategic area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim, added fuel to the fire. The UK officially announced it would formulate comprehensive measures against Israel in response, and Bloomberg reported that one of the steps being considered is a ban on trade with settlements. The expert warns that if the UK joins in, it is a big deal that could lead additional countries to join the sanctions, and that the E1 story raises the risk level that the European Union will also approve sanctions against Israel. Some countries have even threatened contractor companies not to submit their candidacy for the construction tender in E1.