EU Ministers Split as Support Grows for Ban on Trade With Israeli West Bank Settlements

European Union foreign ministers signaled growing support for restricting trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank during a meeting in Brussels on Monday, though the bloc remains divided over how to proceed.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said a ban on trade with Israeli settlements received the strongest backing among the options discussed. However, she acknowledged there was still no clear majority among the EU’s 27 member states for any specific measure. EU ambassadors have now been tasked with continuing discussions in the coming weeks.

According to officials familiar with the talks, the European Commission presented three possible approaches: introducing an import licensing system, imposing prohibitive tariffs, or implementing a complete trade ban on goods from Israeli settlements. The debate comes as several European governments push for stronger action, citing escalating violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and concerns over the continued expansion of settlements under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said member states remain divided. While countries such as the Netherlands support a trade ban, others oppose it, and a third group has yet to decide its position. He expressed hope that additional discussions could produce greater clarity by the end of the summer.

The EU is also split over the legal process required to adopt trade restrictions. The European Commission and some member states argue unanimous approval is necessary, while other governments and the Council of the EU’s legal service believe a qualified majority vote would be sufficient.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized Kallas, accusing her of using diplomatic tactics to advance the proposal. He said Israel’s relationship with Europe should be based on fairness and dialogue.

The issue follows a July 2024 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, which concluded that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements in the West Bank is illegal under international law and urged countries to avoid trade or investment that supports the settlements. Israel rejects that interpretation, maintaining the territory is disputed and citing longstanding historical Jewish ties to the area.

The discussions also highlighted longstanding divisions within the EU over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Spain called for an immediate ban on settlement trade, while Germany argued the bloc should prioritize pressuring Israel to curb violence by extremist settlers before considering broader trade measures.