Norway is facing sharp criticism over proposed legislation that opponents argue unfairly targets Jews. Under the measure, people who knowingly engage in certain business activities with Israeli communities in the West Bank could face prison sentences of up to three years.
Put forward by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the proposal would ban imports of products from Israeli communities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while also prohibiting exports to those areas. The restrictions would extend to some property transactions, construction and engineering work, and investments involving companies based and operating in those communities.
According to Section 7 of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry’s consultation document, deliberate breaches could be punished by fines, up to three years in prison, or both. Negligent violations could carry fines, jail terms of up to six months, or both.
(L-R) Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide addressed reporters after the ninth Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution Meeting and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting, which examined international assistance for Palestinians and efforts to revive the peace process. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The legislation has not been enacted and remains open for public consultation, with submissions due by Sept. 19.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon denounced the proposed measure in comments provided to News Media.
“Norway’s proposal to criminalize trade with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria is the latest expression of their obsessive and openly hostile policy toward Israel. Instead of contributing to peace or regional stability, Norway has chosen political grandstanding, selective outrage and punitive measures against Israel,” Danon said. “This approach damages bilateral relations, encourages rejectionism, and exposes just how detached Norwegian policy has become from the realities of the Middle East.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry, through its Northern Europe Department, also directed News Media to a statement posted on X that criticized the Norwegian proposal.
The Libi Infrastructure and Construction factory in the Israeli settlement of Shilo in the West Bank, April 30, 2026. (Reuters/Ammar Awad)
“Norway’s legislative proposal to criminalize trade with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria is the latest example of the Norwegian foreign minister’s obsessive anti-Israel activism on the global stage. Norway has repeatedly chosen to sacrifice its bilateral relationship with Israel in favor of one-sided rhetoric and hostile actions that serve domestic interests, undermine efforts to reach peaceful solutions, and are completely detached from the reality in the Middle East.”
In response to a request for comment from News Media, Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred the outlet to its June 19 press release announcing the proposed legislation. The release states that Israeli settlements violate international law and undermine prospects for a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and freedom.
“By proposing legally binding prohibitions, the government makes it clear that Norwegian citizens and Norwegian companies must not profit from or support activities that help sustain Israel’s unlawful settlement activity in Palestine,” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in the release.
Eide also said the settlements contribute to “displacement, extreme violence and a situation that makes a peaceful solution impossible.”
The West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, is home to some 500,000 Israelis. (Mahmoud Illean/AP)
The ministry cited United Nations Security Council findings and International Court of Justice advisory opinions supporting its position on the settlements’ illegality. It said the proposed restrictions would cover imports and exports, property purchases, certain property-related services and acquisitions of businesses with headquarters and production in the settlements, while safeguarding legitimate Palestinian activities and humanitarian assistance.
The proposed legislation would exempt humanitarian activities, as well as transactions the government determines have “sufficient Palestinian ties” and do not contribute to the construction, expansion or maintenance of Israeli communities.
Dag Juliussen, national director of the Norwegian branch of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, said that the exemption could permit business with Palestinian residents while criminalizing comparable transactions involving Jewish residents in the same territory.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon (bottom-R) speaks during a General Assembly meeting to vote on a two-state solution to the Palestinian question at United Nations headquarters on Sept. 12, 2025 in New York City. (Angela Weiss /AFP via Getty Images)
“The bill is based on a fundamentally misguided understanding of the Middle East conflict, which in turn rests on a rewriting of history,” Juliussen said in a statement to News Media. “In addition, such a law would effectively serve as a reward for terrorism and, at its core, is deeply racist toward Jews.”
The consultation document does not characterize the proposal as targeting Jews. Instead, it says the measure is intended to prevent commercial activity that helps maintain Israeli communities beyond the pre-1967 lines, while shielding qualifying Palestinian commerce and humanitarian assistance.
Under the proposal, exemptions would be evaluated according to the people involved who benefit from the transaction and whether the activity contributes to the construction, expansion or maintenance of an Israeli community.
Juliussen said purchasing agricultural products from Muslim, Christian, Arab or Bedouin residents could be permitted, while purchasing similar products from Jewish residents could become a criminal offense. He argued that the determining factor would effectively be the identity of the seller.
Norway formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 and has become one of Israel’s strongest European critics since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
Juliussen warned that the proposed legislation would not bring Israelis and Palestinians closer to peace but could instead deepen divisions and encourage extremist forces in the region.