Luxembourg has decided to amend its national legal framework to allow a ban on direct imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, following a failure to secure agreement at European Union level.
Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel outlined the initiative before the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday 27 October, according to Paperjam. The announcement concerns a planned legal change: the timetable and details of the proposed restriction have yet to be finalised.
Bettel said there was no majority in the Council of the EU to adopt a European Commission proposal. Although he continues to favour European action, which he considers more effective, he argued that the absence of agreement should no longer prevent Luxembourg from pursuing a national measure.
The consequence for Luxembourg is a decision to change the legal framework governing direct imports from the settlements. Bettel cited dates, olives and oranges as examples of products the proposed ban would target. The report does not establish when restrictions would begin.
The minister presented the initiative as a targeted effort to avoid supporting illegal settlement, drawing on the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion. He distinguished the proposed restriction on settlement goods from sanctions against Israel.
Bettel also placed the initiative within his support for a two-state solution. For now, the announced step is the preparation of a national legal route to restrict those imports, with the scope and implementation timetable still awaiting finalisation.