Government presents proposals to increase pressure on illegal settlements in West Bank

The measures proposed by the Government to the European Commission on increased tariffs on products from Israeli settlements on occupied land and export certificate requirements directly increase the cost of imported goods from these areas. The aim is to differentiate this trade from other trade. 

“The situation in the West Bank has deteriorated sharply in recent years, with a surge in settler violence. Sweden has already been pushing for sanctions against extremist settlers and extremist Israeli ministers, but the pressure must increase. We are therefore moving forward with a proposal on increased tariffs on products from illegal settlements and export certificates. This is a clear signal against the heightened settler violence and the widespread expansion of settlements, which undermines the two-state solution,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.

The proposal on differentiated tariffs would see the EU increasing tariffs on products from Israeli settlements on occupied land. The export certificate requirement means that products from Israeli settlements must have Palestinian export certificates for import into the EU.