We must stop supporting illegal Israeli settlements
Member of the Finnish Parliament, Veronika Honkasalo The Left Alliance (Finland) has passed a bill banning the import of goods from certain occupied territories. The scope of the proposed law would cover occupation contrary to international law by the State of Israel and Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territories.
– Clear and statutory import bans can help businesses and consumers make responsible choices. The Palestinians are suffering from the longest occupation in modern history and Israeli politics that systematically violates international law and human rights. We must stop supporting illegal Israeli settlements, Honkasalo says.
The proposal proposes a ban on the import of goods from areas where the occupying powers are in serious breach of international humanitarian law or human rights treaties. The aim is to prevent any business that may directly or indirectly provide remedies for such violations. A list of eligible areas would be issued by government decree on the basis of the framework provided by the proposed law.
– The most egregious examples are the dismantling of homes of people living in the area and the deportation or forced relocation of residents from the path of illegal occupying settlements. This violates international law, the approval of the international community and the sovereignty of the peoples of the region.
The control of the import ban would fall within the competence of Customs. Violation of the ban would be punishable under the provisions of the Finnish Penal Code on smuggling, smuggling, illicit trade in imported goods and minor illicit trade in imported goods.
– Finland is among the defenders of international law, is committed to the universal values of the UN and actively defends international law, democracy and human rights. It is therefore our duty to put an end to the fact that business in support of economies violating occupying power in support of international law does not cause or exacerbate human rights violations in the Occupied Territories.
Mrs. Honkasalo will collect the signatures of the deputies for the presentation until February 1, 2022.
Veronika Honkasalo, Left Alliance