Israel offers cash to firms hit by trade ban; Europe dithers on new rules

The Israeli government plans to pay companies in illegal settlements up to 200,000 shekels ($54,000) following a commitment by European countries to ban their goods amid escalating human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Roey Fisher, head of Israel’s Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, told Israeli media outlet Calcalist that it has set up a “dedicated team” to help companies operating in illegal settlements find “alternative markets”, including the Philippines, India, the United Arab Emirates, Chile and Argentina.