Netherlands asks Aruba to consider ban on goods from Israeli settlements

ORANJESTAD/THE HAGUE – The Dutch government has asked Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten to consider adopting their own ban on products originating from Israeli settlements in occupied territories, Curacao.nu portal reports. A new Dutch trade ban takes effect on September 21 but will apply only in the European Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba).

According to the Dutch government, the three autonomous Caribbean countries have their own legal authority to implement international sanctions, leaving it up to each government to decide whether to introduce similar measures.

The Dutch ban prohibits the import, purchase, sale and commercial brokering of goods produced in settlements considered illegal under international law. The Netherlands has also offered to cooperate with the islands should they decide to adopt comparable measures.

So far, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have not announced whether they will introduce similar restrictions.