Slovenia to Ban Imports from Illegal Israeli Settlements over Gaza Genocide
Ljubljana (Quds News Network)- Slovenia announced on Wednesday a ban on the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, and approved an additional aid package for Palestinians in Gaza, over the ongoing genocide.
"The government today banned the import of goods originating from settlements in the occupied territories, including a ban on circumventing the ban on these imports," the statement on the government website said.
The government also instructed the competent ministries to consider banning the export of goods from Slovenia intended for these Israeli-occupied settlements.
"Israeli government's actions, including the construction of illegal settlements, expropriations, the forced displacement of the Palestinian population, the destruction of their homes...constitute serious and repeated violations of international humanitarian law," Prime Minister Robert Golob said in a statement quoted by the STA news agency.
"These actions not only threaten the lives and dignity of the Palestinian population, but also the foundations of the international order."
The news agency said the volume of goods affected is extremely low at under 2,000 euros ($2,327.60) in 2023.
Israel has built more than 100 settlements across the occupied West Bank that are home to some 500,000 settlers. These settlements are illegal under international law.
Slovenia recognised a Palestinian state in June last year, following Spain, Ireland and Norway.
Last week, it also imposed an embargo on exports, imports and the transit of arms to Israel, two weeks after it declared Israeli ministers persona non grata.
Slovenia’s move came amid growing pressure within the EU against Israel over its ongoing assault in Gaza, where over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023.
European nations like Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain have increasingly called for the EU’s ties with Israel to be reassessed in the wake of the war in Gaza.
This follows a report by the European Commission that found “indications” that Israel’s actions in Gaza are violating human rights obligations in the agreement governing its ties with the EU, but the bloc is divided over what to do in response.
The EU’s association agreement with Israel is a framework for trade and political relations. The bloc is Israel’s largest trading partner, accounting for nearly a third of Israel’s global trade, according to EU data.
The calls for suspending the deal come as a number of countries have announced they will recognise the State of Palestine in response to Israel's continuing onslaught on Gaza.
