Belgium Bans Imports From Israeli Settlements

The Belgian Council of Ministers adopted a royal decree on Saturday, July 18, prohibiting the import of products originating from Israeli settlements. The ban applies to all goods from territory Israel occupies, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, but excludes the Golan Heights.

Amnesty International Belgium welcomed the decision as a step toward ending the economic viability of settlements that violate Palestinian human rights and international law. The move follows similar unilateral decisions by other European Union countries, Spain, the Netherlands, and Ireland, while the EU as a whole delays adopting a common position on the issue.

According to the Global Echo Litigation Center, agricultural goods, particularly dates, herbs, peppers, and other fruits and vegetables, comprise the majority of exports from settlements to Europe. Amnesty International expressed regret that Belgium’s ban does not include a prohibition on commercialization within the country, as products could still enter the common European market via neighboring nations like France.