Netherlands to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements starting in September

The Netherlands will begin enforcing a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories on Sept. 22, Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen told parliament on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Companies trying to bypass the restrictions will also face prosecution as of that date, according to Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws. The Dutch government considers the settlements in the occupied territories to be in violation of international law and says the measure is intended to prevent trade from contributing to their continued existence. Imports from the settlements consist mainly of agricultural products, including avocados, dates, oranges, grapes and fresh herbs. The measure will also cover products from the occupied Golan Heights, a region known for wine production. Annual trade involving the […]