MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Implementation of the ICJ advisory opinion as regards EU trade with illegal Israeli settlements – E-002150/2024

Source: European Parliament

Question for written answer  E-002150/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Tineke Strik (Verts/ALE), Barry Andrews (Renew), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Daniel Attard (S&D), Irena Joveva (Renew), Lynn Boylan (The Left), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew), Billy Kelleher (Renew), Thomas Bajada (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D), Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D), Pierre Jouvet (S&D), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (S&D), Marc Botenga (The Left), Hana Jalloul Muro (S&D), Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), Murielle Laurent (S&D), Thijs Reuten (S&D), Chloé Ridel (S&D), Nora Mebarek (S&D), Eric Sargiacomo (S&D), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Alex Agius Saliba (S&D), Evin Incir (S&D), Seán Kelly (PPE), Maria Walsh (PPE), Nina Carberry (PPE)

All Member States agree that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and are an obstacle to a two-state solution, as confirmed by the European Council conclusions of 22 March 2024[1].

By trading with the illegal Israeli settlements, the EU is not only supporting their continuation and the abuses underpinning them, but also breaching its obligations under international law.

On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled[2] that states are under an obligation ‘to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory; … and to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’.

The current EU policy of differentiation[3], whereby goods made in the Israeli settlements are not covered by the EU-Israel Association Agreement but traded through a ‘technical arrangement’, does not comply with the obligations laid out by the ICJ, which require a blanket ban on trade with the settlements.

Will the Commission comply with its obligations under international law and urgently ban all trade with the illegal Israeli settlements?

Submitted: 17.10.2024

• [1] Paragraph 26, https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-7-2024-INIT/en/pdf.
• [2] Paragraph 278, https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20240719-adv-01-00-en.pdf.
• [3] https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/israel_en.