Israel's settlement economy faces European trade restrictions that reach financing and construction

Businesses operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are preparing for European penalties that go well beyond import labelling. The Financial Times reports that measures from Britain, France and other countries reach into financing, insurance and construction services connected to the settlements.

The measures were announced on 8 September. Al Jazeera reported that twelve states backed restrictions, and Britain said its new regime would ban imports of settlement goods and cover individuals and companies providing services including financing and construction. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden joined Britain and France, adding to measures already adopted by the Netherlands and Belgium. The governments cited what they described as a rapidly deteriorating situation and an increase in settler violence against Palestinians. Israel's government rejects the measures as discriminatory and has responded by closing Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem. The International Court of Justice has held that Israel's settlement enterprise in the occupied territories is unlawful, a finding Israel disputes.

The services element is what changes corporate behaviour. A ban on goods can be worked around by relabelling or by routing through a third party. A restriction on financing, insurance and construction services forces banks, insurers and contractors in twelve jurisdictions to identify and exclude counterparties, which creates compliance obligations that persist regardless of diplomatic developments.

Cultural pressure is running alongside. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel extended its boycott call to the singer Ed Sheeran's full world tour, The Hindu reported, after a dispute involving the musician Macklemore. Sheeran told an audience in Philadelphia that he considered the situation in Gaza unjustifiable, according to Al Jazeera.