The Conversation - ‘Blood olives’: the hurdles in enforcing UK’s ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements

In The Conversation, Sarah Schiffling, deputy director of Hanken’s HUMLOG Institute, and her research colleagues examine the issue.

“To answer this question, it’s worth looking at how such sanctions are already enforced in similar situations. Blood diamonds, the precious stones whose proceeds are used to finance war, are often cited as an example of the way countries can avoid trading in commodities that can contribute to harm. But the goods and services involved in the sanctions on West Bank settlements are far less valuable.

Exports include agricultural products like dates and olives, supporting – according UK foreign secretary to Ed Miliband – settler terrorism and ethnic cleansing. While blood olives might not have the same ring to it, enforcement challenges are similar to those with blood diamonds.”

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”Blood olives”: the hurdles in enforcing UK’s ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements