The Norwegian government is preparing a bill that would impose up to three years in prison on those who trade with Israeli settlements that have seized occupied Palestinian territories.
Norwegian official Eide said the bill aims to prevent economic support for these settlements. Eide said the government also plans to ban certain services in addition to trade, adding that Western countries had changed their stance toward Israelis who seized Palestinian land.
Eide argued that Israel had grown accustomed to intimidating Western countries by blaming them in response to criticism of its human rights violations. Eide said this approach was no longer effective.

The bill is expected to be submitted to the Norwegian Parliament in the coming months.
On September 8, 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Norway and Canada, announced that they had decided to ban trade with Israeli settlements that have seized occupied Palestinian territories.