Oslo boycotts Israeli settlement goods and services
Oslo (QNN)- In a historic step, Oslo’s newly installed City Council decided to ban Israeli settlement goods and services from public procurements.
The ban on goods from Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine is a part of the newly adopted platform for 2019 – 2023 approved by Oslo’s recently-elected City Council, led by the Socialist Left (SV), Labour and Green parties.
“The Palestinian people, who have to deal with the illegal occupation of their territory every single day, deserve international attention and support,” said Sunniva Holmås Eidsvoll, leader of the Oslo City Council’s Socialist Left group.
The council said it would “investigate the scope of action to not trade goods and services produced on territory occupied in violation of international law by companies operating under the permission of the occupying power”.
The decision would not make a distinction between Israeli and international companies operating in the occupied West Bank.
The boycott movement welcomed the decision.
“Local councils are showing they are undeterred by repression, and continue to pave the way, despite inaction by national governments,” said Alys Samson Estape, its Europe campaigns co-ordinator.
“A ban on goods and services from Israel’s illegal settlements is the very least that government institutions should enact to cut their complicity with Israel’s regime of apartheid, settler colonialism and occupation.”
The occupation state has dramatically increased its illegal settlement building and plans for future units in the West Bank since US President Donald Trump came to power.
More than 400,000 Jewish settlers live in outposts dotted around the West Bank. Settlers carry out attacks on Palestinians on daily basis while Israeli authorities use settlers to confiscate more land.
