Norway Faces Backlash Over Proposed West Bank Business Ban

Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed legislation that would prohibit certain business activities with Israeli communities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The proposed law, currently under public consultation until September 19, could result in fines or imprisonment for individuals and companies found to be in intentional violation.

Intentional violations could lead to imprisonment for up to three years or fines, while negligent violations could incur fines or up to six months imprisonment. The measure is intended to prevent commercial activity that supports the construction and maintenance of Israeli settlements, which Norway views as violations of international law and hindrances to a two-state solution.

Critics, however, have condemned the proposal, with Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, calling it an "obsessive and openly hostile policy toward Israel." He stated that the move "damages bilateral relations, encourages rejectionism, and exposes just how detached Norwegian policy has become from the realities of the Middle East."

The Israeli Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, referring to the proposal as a "legislative proposal to criminalize trade with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria" and an "obsessive anti-Israel activism." They argued that Norway is sacrificing its bilateral relationship with Israel for "one-sided rhetoric and hostile actions."

Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a June 19 press release, stated that Israeli settlements violate international law and undermine prospects for peace. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the proposed legally binding prohibitions would ensure Norwegian citizens and companies do not profit from or support unlawful settlement activity. He also noted that settlements contribute to displacement, violence, and a situation that makes a peaceful solution impossible.

Dag Juliussen, national director of the Norwegian branch of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, argued that the bill is based on a "fundamentally misguided understanding of the Middle East conflict" and is "deeply racist toward Jews." He suggested that exemptions, intended to protect legitimate Palestinian activities, could allow business with Palestinian residents while criminalizing similar transactions with Jewish residents in the same territory, effectively making the identity of the seller the determining factor.

The consultation document from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, does not characterize the proposal as targeting Jews. It aims to prohibit imports and exports, property transactions, certain services, and business acquisitions in Israeli settlements. Exemptions would be made for humanitarian activities and transactions with significant Palestinian ties that do not contribute to settlement expansion.

Norway formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 and has been a vocal critic of Israel since the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas.