Norwegian gov't urges companies to avoid trade helping Israel's occupation

OSLO - The Norwegian government has updated its advice to the country's companies, urging them not to engage in trade and business cooperation that serves to perpetuate Israel's illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.

"Such trade and business cooperation may be associated with serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a press release on Tuesday.

The trade and business cooperation "could in certain cases be considered activity that enables violations of these rights to continue," the foreign minister added.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its advisory opinion issued on July 19, concluded that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is a violation of international law.

"The UN's principal judicial body has determined that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is in violation of international law and must cease as soon as possible," Eide said, adding, "If we are to succeed in ending the occupation, all those who provide revenue to this activity must take responsibility."