Key facts
- EU foreign ministers will discuss potential measures to curb trade with Israeli settlements.
- The European Commission has proposed three options: an import licensing system, prohibitive tariffs, or a ban.
- Divisions among EU member states are expected to prevent immediate decisions.
- The International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating Israel's occupation and settlements are illegal.
- A recent investigation found a significant portion of shipments from settlements were mislabelled as Israeli-grown.
European Union foreign ministers are set to discuss potential new measures to curb trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The discussion, based on a confidential paper from the European Commission, will explore options including an import licensing system, prohibitive tariffs, or a complete ban. The EU has long faced divisions among its 27 member states regarding Middle East policy, particularly concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, pressure to act on settlements has increased due to rising settler violence and frustration with the Israeli government's expansion of settlements.
An advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice in July 2024 stated that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements are illegal, and that states should take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that maintain this situation. Most countries and UN bodies also consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, a view Israel rejects.
Diplomats anticipate that a formal decision on any specific measure is unlikely during Monday's meeting. Divisions also exist over the voting procedure required for such a decision, with some suggesting a qualified majority is sufficient, while the Commission's paper implies unanimous support may be needed, making a ban highly improbable. A recent investigation by NGO Global Echo found that a significant portion of agricultural products from settlements were mislabelled as Israeli-grown.