Norway discourages business, trade with Israeli settlements
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Norway has been firm in its position that the settlements in the West Bank, including east al-Quds, violate international law, particularly humanitarian law and human rights.
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A general view of the West Bank Israeli settlement of "Efrat", on Jan. 30, 2023 (AP)
The Norwegian government is advising its enterprises against engaging in trade and economic operations that contribute to the continued existence of Israeli settlements, reinforcing its current position, Bloomberg reported.
Norwegian firms have requested preliminary guidance from authorities, the government said in a statement on Thursday, after other nations sanctioned what they call "extremist settlers" for their human rights abuses against Palestinians.
According to the government, there is a risk that businesses are "contributing to violations of international humanitarian law or human rights" through their financial and business interactions in settlements.
Norway has been firm in its position that the settlements in the West Bank, including east al-Quds, violate international law, particularly humanitarian law and human rights.
It is noteworthy that the international community, including "Israel's" biggest ally, the United States, as well as the European Union, considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of an occupying power's population into the territory it occupies.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated last month that Israeli settlements are "inconsistent with international law," contradicting Trump's claim that development in Palestinian territory may proceed.
Late last month, four Norwegian universities opted to cut relations with Israeli colleges that they consider involved in the occupying regime's murderous onslaught in Gaza.
The "Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel" (PACBI) applauded the decisions, calling them a significant step toward supporting the Palestinian cause.
The decision is consistent with the campaign's call for foreign academic and cultural institutions to cut connections with Israeli counterparts implicated in the genocide of Gaza.
In mid-February, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry confirmed that it has agreed to help in the transfer of frozen tax funds allocated for the Palestinian Authority that were collected by "Israel".
'Israel' launches new settlement plan in the occupied West Bank
Israeli Minister Orit Strook revealed today that the Israeli occupation government has initiated construction plans for 3,500 settler housing units in the occupied West Bank.
This follows Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's promise last month to extend settlements.
Israeli Minister Orit Stock, Smotrich's ally, posted on X today, "Nearly 3,500 settlement units."
"We promised -- we are delivering... Together we will continue to advance the settlements," Strook added.
