The United Kingdom and several European countries are moving to restrict or ban imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The UK announced that it would ban imports of all goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with the measure expected to take effect within six to nine months.
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the decision was taken in response to the expansion of Israeli settlements and increasing attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
The proposed ban is expected to affect products including dates, olive oil and other agricultural goods produced in the settlements.
Following the UK announcement, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden issued a joint statement supporting restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements.
Spain and Ireland had previously announced national measures, while the Netherlands and Belgium have also moved to restrict trade involving goods from Israeli settlements.
Europe Remains Major Trading Partner of Israel
Despite the planned restrictions, trade between Israel and European countries remains substantial.
The European Union accounted for 31.7 per cent of Israel’s total goods trade in 2025, with bilateral trade valued at about €43.3 billion ($50.4 billion).
EU countries supplied approximately €28 billion ($32.6 billion) worth of imports to Israel and received about €15.3 billion ($17.8 billion) in Israeli exports.
Among European countries enforcing or planning settlement-goods restrictions, Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK, France and Spain are the largest trading partners of Israel.
Ireland’s bilateral trade with Israel was valued at about $5.36 billion in 2025, while trade between the Netherlands and Israel stood at approximately $4.8 billion.
UK-Israel trade was about $3.73 billion, while France recorded approximately $3.62 billion and Spain $2.79 billion.
Although settlement products form only a small proportion of overall European-Israeli trade, the restrictions are viewed as carrying significant political and symbolic importance.
Israeli Settlements
Israeli settlements are communities established by Israel in Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The International Court of Justice ruled in July 2024 that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory was unlawful.
The number of Israeli settlers has also increased significantly over the decades, with estimates placing the current population across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem at between 600,000 and 750,000 people.
The latest trade restrictions are part of growing international pressure on Israel over its settlement policies and the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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