On September 8, 2026, foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom issued a Joint Foreign Ministers’ Statement confirming their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade and commercial relationships connected to Israeli settlements which the countries have deemed “illegal under international law”, and toward the protection and advancement of a two-state solution.
The Netherlands, Ireland, and Spain have already legislated such restrictions and they are in force. Additional countries may place similar restrictions in coming months. Restrictive measures imposed and/or contemplated are not uniform in their scope.
Below we review the restrictions either already imposed or specifically contemplated against Israeli “illegal settlements” in connection with the joint statement or under similar frameworks introduced or contemplated in recent months.
Companies with operations in Israel and a nexus to countries that have imposed restrictions can address risks associated with such legislation by preparing for active or anticipated measures, questions or declaration requirements, as outlined below, and should monitor legislative developments in the rest of the countries that have issued the joint statement.
Restrictions in Force
Netherlands
Applicable Legislation: Decision of 13 July 2026, establishing temporary economic restrictions to combat the maintenance of unlawful settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories (Temporary Sanctions Decree on Unlawful Settlements in the Israeli-occupied Territories) [KetenID WGK028298]
Jurisdiction: The Decision applies within Dutch territory, which includes the Dutch former colonies and current Dutch Caribbean Islands special municipalities of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. It does not apply to Dutch former colonies and current autonomous constituent countries in the Dutch Kingdom (Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten). The law also applies to Dutch legal persons elsewhere in the EU.
Restricted Goods: The Decision applies automatically to tangible goods wholly or partly obtained from or produced in restricted territories, as well as goods that have undergone any processing or transformation in a restricted territory, or goods containing raw materials or semi-finished products originating from a restricted territory. The regulation defined restricted territories as listed in Part 1 in the EU’s postal code list for places from which goods don’t qualify for preferential treatment (including not only locations in the West Bank but also the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem). In addition, the restrictions apply to areas included in Part 2 of the list, “provided that the place or street within the relevant postcode lies outside Israel according to the borders of 4 June 1967 (the so-called Green Line)”, which may be subject to further verification by authorities.
The Decision excludes goods eligible for preferential treatment in accordance with Article 64 of the Union Customs Code. In practice, the restrictions utilize existing customs measures already applied to Israeli goods in determining non-preferential treatment, and exclude items already recognized as ‘Israel’-origin goods based on existing EU arrangements and policies for determining rules of origin in Israel for the purpose of customs arrangements with the EU.
Key Prohibitions Pertaining to Restricted Goods: The ban restricts the import, purchase and sale of restricted goods. importers are required to make a declaration to Dutch custom officials that items do not original from designated settlements. While it is forbidden to bring such good through the Netherlands even when travelling through to another EU country, the transit of goods through Dutch territory under customs transport, is not prohibited.
The ban also restricts intermediary services that facilitate the trade in such goods even outside the Netherlands (ie. brokering services), as well as circumvention of such restrictions. With regards to brokering services, the regulation restricts brokering services to facilitate the import, purchase, or sale of these goods in the Netherlands as well in any other EU member state.
Guidance Documents: The new legislation includes an explanatory memorandum with respect to the main features of the decree and its clauses.
In addition, several guidance documents have been issued, including guidance by the Customs Administration of the Netherlands on the supporting documents that may be required of importers to confirm the origin of Israeli goods imported into the Netherlands.
Ireland
Applicable Legislation: Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Act 2026 (Commencement September 15, 2026)
Restricted Goods: The law imposes restrictions on goods originating in a designated postal code, save for non-commercial personal goods and exempted goods. It is important to note that the Irish list is based on the same EU’s list of locations not eligible under the EU-Israel Technical agreement, which importantly includes areas beyond settlements in Judea and Samaria, but also in the Golan Heights, Central Israel (areas in Modiin-Maccabim-Reut), Jerusalem, and other areas of Israel. As with the Dutch bill, importers from areas whose postal codes are partly in restricted areas may apply for exemption if the goods originate from what is described under the regulation as the “Israeli part of the listed postal code”. Exemptions may be applied for using forms prescribed by the regulator. Israeli Companies should review the postal codes identified in the list to determine whether the ban may apply to their goods.
Key Prohibitions Pertaining to Restricted Goods: The law imposes import prohibitions on restricted goods with the exception of non-commercial goods part of a person’s personal baggage and intended for personal consumption or use.
Spain
Applicable Legislation: Royal Decree-Law 10/2025, of September 23, adopting urgent measures against genocide in Gaza and in support of the Palestinian population.
Restricted Goods: The Spanish Decree imposes restrictions on a number of products (military, dual-use, fuel for military use etc,), including restrictions on products originating from territories. As with the Dutch and Irish bans, the Spanish decree utilizes the EU list in forming its list of restricted territories. In that manner, the Spanish ban similarly includes areas beyond settlements in Judea and Samaria, but also in the Golan Heights, Central Israel (areas in Modiin-Maccabim-Reut), Jerusalem, and other areas of Israel. Unlike the other bans, the Spanish Decree does not divide the list into separate parts, and does not make reference to a similar exemption mechanism.
Key Prohibitions Pertaining to Restricted Goods: The Spanish Decree restricts importing restricted goods. In addition, the Spanish decree restricts advertising the sale of goods originating in designated settlements as well as services provided in those settlements.
Proposed Restrictions
United Kingdom
On September 8, 2026, The UK Foreign Secretary announced the following specific measures to be implemented through a new comprehensive sanctions regime within the next six to nine months: (a) an import ban on goods from illegal settlements; (b) a prohibition on providing services (construction, infrastructure, financing, real estate) for the purposes of settlement expansion; (c) a ban on the advertising of illegal settlements in the UK; (d) a refusal of all license applications for arms and other exports “that materially contribute to the occupation”; (e) and sanctions on additional “extremist settlers”.
At present, no draft legislation has been publicized further to the Foreign Secretary’s statements.
Norway
In June 2026, Norway announced a proposed bill banning trade with designated Israeli settlements. The bill would ban in relating to designated settlements the following activities: (a) importing goods from, (b) exporting goods to, (c) purchasing real estate, (d) providing services relating to the construction, renovation, purchase, or sale of property, (e) acquiring businesses with headquarters and productions in designated settlements. The consultation period for the bill ended on September 19, 2026.
Belgium
On July 18, Belgium announced its Council of Ministers approved a draft royal decree to impose restrictions on “goods originating from Israeli settlements located in the Palestinian Territory occupied by Israel, namely the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.” The regulation has been submitted to the Council of State for its opinion.
Practical Implications for Businesses
Businesses should continue to stay apprised of changes to existing restrictions and the introduction of new restrictions. The developments described above may have significant practical implications for Israeli businesses operating not only in the West Bank, but in regions across Israel designated by these restrictions.
Businesses operating in jurisdictions with restrictions in place should consider whether their goods may be considered originating from and/or developed in a designated settlement, or whether they may be engaged in prohibited activities (ex. providing services for restricted goods, advertisement etc.). In addition, Businesses should be prepared to make certifications to relevant custom authorities, as well as business partners as necessary. The changing restrictive landscape may also affect existing contractual agreements, and future agreement negotiations. Businesses should review existing contracts with counterparties for sanctions and compliance representations, audit rights, and termination provisions.
As some proposed restrictive measures have mentioned their intention to target real estate and infrastructure development in designated areas, companies operating in these sectors should also consider existing and potential future restrictions on their activities, including prohibitions on bidding for construction tenders and providing construction related services.
