From Legal Department of the Democratic Front To Parliaments and Political and Societal Frameworks Worldwide

Dear Members of Parliaments Worldwide,

Dear Representatives of Political and Societal Frameworks,

Greetings,

As part of our ongoing engagement with international political, parliamentary, trade union, and popular forces, we are addressing you regarding a matter of utmost importance: the circumvention by Israeli institutions and companies of European laws in order to market their products—particularly in European markets.
In principle, products originating from Israeli settlements in European markets are subject to clear legal frameworks. Despite the 2019 ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union requiring the labeling of products originating from settlements, numerous reports indicate an increase in practices aimed at circumventing such regulations and bypassing boycott efforts.
Accordingly, we address you on behalf of the “Legal Department of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine,” based on our awareness of the role played by progressive forces in Europe and by those committed to upholding international law and human rights. As partners in strengthening the system of international justice, we call upon you to initiate legal and legislative measures to ban the import and marketing of products originating from Israeli settlements established in the occupied Palestinian territories. This step is not merely an act of political solidarity, but a response to legal and ethical obligations imposed by the international legal order.
This call is grounded in well-established principles of public international law and international humanitarian law, which concur on the illegality of settlements and oblige states not to recognize or provide any direct or indirect support to them. Settlements constitute a clear violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of the occupying power’s civilian population into occupied territory. They also contravene the Hague Regulations, which emphasize the protection of private property and prohibit the exploitation of resources.
At the level of international legitimacy, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) reaffirmed that settlements are illegal and constitute a flagrant violation of international law, calling upon states to distinguish between “the territory of Israel” and the territories occupied since 1967. Resolution 465 (1980) also called for refraining from providing any assistance to the settlement enterprise. Furthermore, the International Court of Justice, in its 2004 advisory opinion, affirmed the illegality of measures altering the demographic and legal status of the occupied territories, while the United Nations General Assembly in 2024 called for ending the Israeli occupation within one year.
The Treaty on European Union stipulates that the Union’s external actions must be guided by respect for human dignity and international law, thereby requiring Member States to refrain from supporting unlawful situations. In this context, the Court of Justice of the European Union, in its 2019 ruling (Psagot case), emphasized the need for clear labeling of products originating from Israeli settlements. However, such measures remain insufficient, as they do not address the continued circulation of these products in European markets.
European states are legally bound by the principles of non-recognition of unlawful situations and non-assistance, in addition to their obligation to ensure respect for international humanitarian law. The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination is also considered a peremptory norm of international law, making any economic activity that supports settlements a violation of this right.
Accordingly, the continued presence of settlement products in European markets is inconsistent with these obligations and may amount to indirect complicity in human rights violations, as also highlighted by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The adoption of legislation banning such products would enhance Europe’s credibility as an actor committed to international law and ensure coherence between trade policies and human rights principles. It would also constitute an effective means of exerting pressure on the settlement system and align with growing trends within European societies.
Therefore, we call upon you to work towards adopting national and European legislation banning the import and marketing of settlement products, to develop effective monitoring mechanisms to prevent circumvention, to impose legal measures on companies involved, and to support international efforts to hold relevant Israeli institutions accountable.
In conclusion, we see in your role a genuine opportunity to bring about tangible change by translating principles into practical policies. This step represents both a legal and moral commitment to protecting an international order based on justice. We affirm our readiness to cooperate and provide any necessary support to advance this effort.