France approves text in committee prohibiting trade with Israeli settlements

Oin committee today, the french members approved a proposal for a law aimed at prohibiting imports of products from israeli settlements and services contributing to their expansion.

Presented by the first Secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, the text should be examined in the Chamber on 19 November.

Their approval in committee is without prejudice to the outcome of this vote. In the preliminary phase of the analysis in committee, the text generated several confrontations.

The proposal aims to prohibit the import, purchase and marketing of goods from Israeli settlements in Palestine, which are illegal under international law, territories occupied by Israel.

It also refers to services, especially financial services, which contribute to the development or maintenance of colonies, such as renting apartments to tourists.

“It is by no means a general sanction for Israel,” said M. Faure, also rapporteur of the text, who wants to “end the financing of illegality.”.

“ We cannot sustainably condemn a diplomatic policy as long as we allow economic relations that contribute to its maintenance”, he insisted.

Cosigned by more than 100 deputies from eight groups, the text received the support of the Left and Modem groups in the committee, but faced the opposition of the presidential party and the Rassemblement National (extreme right).

For the provision of prohibited services, the text provides for a year's imprisonment and a fine which can reach 5% of the world's annual turnover.

The RN criticized an “obsession against Israel” and a “small insignificant communication action”, considering the device inapplicable.

Similar texts have been adopted in Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands since September 2025, with different scopes, covering goods and certain services.

France, in 2024, was the tenth destination of Israeli commodity exports, according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.

But Israel represents a small part of French purchases abroad: 0.2% of imports of goods in 2024, according to the French Treasury. The portion from the settlements remains difficult to determine.